200 VERRONGE. [1846. 



to beach upon the supposed sandy flats, which, although 

 apparent on the southern portions of the island, are no- 

 where to be hit, being invariably barred, at some distance, 

 by girdles of coral, generally very " steep to." 



The island off which we anchored, was called Avocare, 

 and is at present the principal fishing station ; the resident 

 fishermen consisting of fourteen coloured people of Mau- 

 ritius, and a head man, a half-caste of Seychelles ; the 

 whole establishment, including the schooner, belonging to 

 Mr. Chelin of Seychelles, now of Mauritius, who for- 

 merly conducted the business in person. They were 

 hutted in the most miserable style upon the island, and 

 started daily in the morning in two whale boats, with 

 hooks and lines, returning at about 4 o'clock in the after- 

 noon, with about an average take of forty to fifty fish per 

 man, weighing, when cleaned, about 2 cwt. 



Another small islet, called Verronge, is situated about 

 five miles southerly, where they have a hut for temporary 

 refuge, and Etablissement, the northern Cocoa-nut Island, 

 which formerly possessed a respectable residence, com- 

 pletes their haunts upon this group. When the 1 schooner 

 has taken on board the fish which is cured, she starts for 

 Mauritius, leaving the fourteen and Captain of them be- 

 hind, to complete fresh stock by the period of her return. 

 Our crew very soon tried their luck at fishing, and during 

 our stay they feasted as long as they could obtain facility 

 for cooking in the galley, which was incessantly crowded 

 by more cooks than our establishment warranted.* 



* Fortunately the wreck of the 'Letitia' furnished them with 

 adequate fuel, or this indulgence might, from necessity, have been 

 cramped. 



