1846.] coco ISLAND. 203 



at this group ? By the survey, by the late Capt. Mudge, 

 under Capt. Owen, in 1825, unnoticed by Horsburgh, 

 in 1841, the sand-banks alluded to may have been above 

 water, we have many instances of greater alterations; 

 and viewing the decided changes recorded, and visible, 

 here, I have strong suspicions that this talented officer 

 was correct ; but that the sea has cut its way through, 

 even to severing the main island in two, and leaving a 

 channel through which the ' Samarang ' could pass. 



Every inquiry was made of the Captain of the resident 

 fishermen as to the existence of St. Brandon's Ilocks. 

 He derisively exclaimed, " Oh yes ; these are the rocks 

 of St. Brandon ; every white stone you notice above water 

 is termed a St. Brandon." This Captain, or principal, (a 

 French half-caste of Seychelles) assured me, that he has 

 navigated these seas for the last twenty-six years, and in 

 the fine season has been much employed seeking the 

 hawk's-bill turtle (in the schooner) to windward, beyond 

 the limits I mentioned, and that no shoal was ever seen 

 or believed by them to exist in that direction. I have 

 little doubt, therefore, that the report of their existence 

 originated in the customary habit of these fishermen, on 

 their visits to Mauritius, of alluding to the Cargados, 

 under the appellation, which they invariably use, of 

 St. Brandon. 



Water fit to drink we were not able to procure ; I 

 tasted some on L'Avocare, but it was brackish. The 

 fishermen stated that they obtained their supply from 

 Coco Island ; we dug in vain, but were afterwards in- 

 formed that it was on the Sand Island (com minuted 

 coral) immediately to the northward of Coco Island. 



