CHAPTER XVI. 



LITTLE CAYMAN ISLAND. 



LITTLE CAYMAN ISLAND is considerably smaller 

 than the main island of this group. It is of the 

 same formation, but the centre is partly covered 

 with mangrove swamps. 



Lord Crawford had not placed this island in 

 the original programme, but he was anxious to 

 obtain a series of specimens of a small gannet, 

 none of which the British Museum possessed. This 

 bird was supposed to be found only on the Cayman 

 Islands, but we could not obtain any on Grand 

 Cayman, and decided to visit this smaller island 

 where, as we were informed, great numbers bred. 



The winds on Little Cayman are variable. At 

 the time of our visit the anchorage we chose on 

 the lee side was the most sheltered, though it is 

 often impossible to anchor there, in which case 

 ships have either to anchor off the settlement 

 in somewhat rough water or stand off and wait 

 for the wind to drop. 



Some of the inhabitants having seen the yacht 

 approaching, were waiting for us when we landed, 

 and on being questioned as to w^here the gannets 



