CRUISING ALOXG SHORE. 209 



tree to feed the young with fish, which they brought to 

 them in their pouches. 



Two months later, in May, I found the young had 

 flown, and every nest with a complement of large white 

 eggs. There are two species of pelican on our Atlantic 

 coast the white and brown. This was the brown ; its 

 plumage of mottled white and gray on the back, dark 

 sides and breast, with a rich velvety brown neck and 

 white head, was not altogether homely. Their long bills, 

 a foot in length, and immense pouches, capable of hold 

 ing a gallon, give them a very odd appearance. 



The approaches to the &quot; Narrows &quot; are guarded by 

 two walls of living green, which, when seen at a distance, 

 seem to be but a few paces apart, leaving but a narrow 

 gateway. As we draw near, however, the distance 

 increases, disclosing a passage nearly a mile in width. 

 Seventy miles it is to the northern end of the lagoon, 

 and above there is a varying width of from three to 

 eight miles. Below the Narrows is a land of plenty. 



Here the oysters accumulate in such quantities that 

 they form this narrow passage. A storm is observed 

 gathering, and just as we enter the Mangrove Islands it 

 bursts upon us. Before the north wind we scud with 

 bare poles, and are obliged to exert all our caution 

 to prevent being wrecked upon some of the many oyster 

 reefs that obstruct the channel. 



It is ten miles through ; and through the gathering 

 gloom we just discern a sheltering point, after long 

 exposure to the gale. &quot;With the storm thundering after 

 us, we silently endure the rain, hoping that night will 

 bring relief ; but no lull occurs, and we anchor behind a 

 projecting reef and finally wade ashore. Hanging our 

 blankets on the mangroves to windward, we finally start 



