[23] WORK OF STEAMER ALBATROSS. 25 



This was in old times the favorite resort of buccaneers, and the ruins 

 of their fortifications, even some of their ancient cannon, are still to be 

 seen. A glance at the beuutilul little harbor of Catalina and its sur- 

 roundings reveals the wisdom of its selection as a rendezvous by the 

 lawless freebooters. The island is entirely surrounded by dangerous 

 reefs, and the entrance to the harbor is narrow, somewhat tortuous, and 

 was commanded by their batteries on shore. Ample supplies of wood, 

 water, fresh meats, fruit, and vegetables were procured from the inhab- 

 itants, with whom they made it a point to be on friendly terms. Its 

 location near to but outside the great routes of commerce made it par- 

 ticularly valuable for their purpose. 



The island belongs to the United States of Colombia, and has a pop- 

 ulation of about 800, the Indian blood predominating, but there is a 

 large African element. The English language is universally spoken, 

 and the Protestant religion is the only one professed by the people. 

 Schools are maintained, and it is the exception when a native is unable 

 to read and write. 



There is no physician on the island, and the lack of proper medical 

 attendance causes great suffering among the inhabitants. Dr. Herndon 

 had a room fitted up on shore, and gave his whole time to the sick who 

 came or were brought to him, the sliip furnishing such medicines as 

 could be spared. As soon as we anchored, an officer was sent on shore 

 to call on the magistrate and inform him of our mission. He received 

 the officer very cordially and offered every assistance in his powei'. 

 The naturalists began work at once and succeeded in making a very 

 creditable collection. Quite a large variety of fi-Sh were procured for 

 specimens, and an ample supply for officers and crew was caught with 

 the seine. Fresh beef, i^oultry, sweet potatoes, yams, and fruit were 

 plentiful at fair prices. Tortoise-shell and cocoanuts are articles of ex- 

 port. The climate during the dry season, from November to May, is 

 tempered by the trades, which blow constantly, and is probably unex- 

 celled by that of any island in the West Indies. 



We left the harbor at 6 a. m. on the 9th instant, and, after clearing 

 the reef, laid a course of NNE. f E. for a doubtful bank 109' distant, in 

 latitude 14° 53' 00" N., longitude 80° 20' 00" W., sounding at intervals 

 of about 11 miles. We put the tangles over, with a boat-dredge at- 

 tached, in 382 fathoms, latitude 13^ 34' 45" N., longitude 81° 21' 10" 

 W. The tangles came up quite clean, but the boat-dredge was filled 

 with a compact mass of white ooze, very rich in foraminifera. The 

 water increased gradually in depth to 1,151 fathoms on the reported 

 bank where it was supposed to break at times. The- sounding was made 

 at 4.30 a. m. on the 10th instant, and the spot carefully located by astro- 

 nomical observations before leaving it. The soundings were quite reg- 

 ular, but, to make a sure thing of it, we sounded 5 miles to the south- 

 ward of the position in 1,060 tathoms, and again G miles to the northward 

 in 971 fathoms, after which we changed the cqurse to NW. by K (mag.), 



