Chap. IV. PRAIA OF SHIMUNX 249 



the mass of vegetation. The sand-bank, which lies at 

 the upper end of the island extends several miles, and 

 presents an irregular, and in some parts, strongly waved 

 surface, with deep hollows and ridges. When upon it, 

 one feels as though treading an almost boundless field 

 of sand : for towards the south-east, where no forest-line 

 terminates the view, the white, rolling plain stretches 

 away to the horizon. The north-easterly channel of the 

 river lying between the sands and the further shore 

 of the river is at least two miles in breadth ; the 

 middle one, between the two islands, Shimuni and 

 Baria, is not much less than a mile. 



We found the two sentinels lodged in a corner of the 

 praia, where it commences at the foot of the towering 

 forest-wall of the island ; having built for themselves a 

 little rancho with poles and palm-leaves. Great precau- 

 tions are obliged to be taken to avoid disturbing the 

 sensitive turtles, who, previous to crawling ashore to lay, 

 assemble in great shoals off the sand-bank. The men, 

 during this time, take care not to show themselves and 

 warn off any fisherman who wishes to pass near the place. 

 Their fires are made in a deep hollow near the borders of 

 the forest, so that the smoke may not be visible. The 

 passage of a boat through the shallow waters where the 

 animals are congregated, or the sight of a man or a 

 fire on the sand-bank, would prevent the turtles from 

 leaving the water that night to lay their eggs, and if 

 the causes of alarm were repeated once or twice, they 

 would forsake the praia for some other quieter place. 

 Soon after we arrived, our men were sent with the net 

 to catch a supply of fish for supper. In half an hour, 



