NATURAL HARBOURS. 163 



instant. Sailing through a narrow space between the 

 rocks of the island and those of the mainland, we 

 rounded Cape Maclear, when the wind, ever change- 

 able, again shifted to the south-east, and came up 

 rather fresh. With the glasses I observed a nice 

 harbour and sandy beach among the rocks, about 

 five miles ahead, and it was determined to reach 

 it if possible, knowing that if it came on too heavy 

 we could easily run back to certain shelter. How- 

 ever, the breeze remaining steady, four hours' beating 

 brought us to the end of our day's work. 



This succession of harbours is really wonderful, and 

 certainly convenient. From one or two things we 

 picked up or saw at most of them, we perceived that 

 they were used for fishing-places by the natives ; but 

 since we left Marenga we have seen no sign of a human 

 being, save the two men described. We observed also 

 the remains of an old fishing-net, a canoe, and in one 

 instance a hut ; but none of these had been used for a 

 year, if not more. Have the poor Manganja been 

 driven away from hence also ? 



I took my customary walk in the evening, but saw 

 nothing save some monkeys, though from numerous 

 old tracks of elephants it was evident that they visited 

 these parts at certain seasons. 



The next morning was rough in the extreme, and 

 a heavy gale prevented us starting at an early hour. 

 On the south side of our harbour was a point from 

 the extremity of which an abrupt cliff rose to the 

 height of two hundred feet, and seeing no hope of a 

 start before noon, I determined on endeavouring to 

 reach its summit. After a toilsome, clambering walk 



M 2 



