94 CAPTAIN TUCKEY'S NARRATIVE. 



covered with high reedy grass and scattered palm trees. 

 We passed two Negro villages, and at 7 anchored within a 

 few yards of the bank in 8 fathoms. 



July 24. At daylight, having a hght breeze at S. W., we 

 weighed and ran along the edge of Stocking island, com- 

 posed (asj^esterday) of reedy grass and thinly scattered palms : 

 at 8, the breeze dying away, anchored in a little cove in 9 

 feet, close to the Negro villao'C of Peter Mesouo-v, where we 

 purchased a few fowls. Here, in searching for something in 

 the boats' cabin, I put my hand on a snake coiled up on a 

 bag of clothes ; on killing it with a cudass, it proved to be 

 a water snake, and apparently not venomous ; though the 

 natives asserted that its bite is mortal. 



At noon, we weighed with a light westerly breeze, and 

 crossed the channel named " Mamballa river" (not dis- 

 tinguished by any other name than " Boat's channel" by 

 the natives) ; the middle of it is filled Avith dry shoals, the 

 channels between which are very winding, so that we kept 

 the gig constantly ahead, and had from 1 to 5 fathoms 

 water until we gained the shore of Farquhar's island, 

 where there is 7 and 10 fathoms close to the bank. Here 

 we saw the first plantation consisting of Indian corn 

 about 2 feet high, and tobacco. In crossing the channel, 

 a hippopotamus was seen, and, from the shoalncss of 



