242 Cruise of the '■^ Alert.'''' 



fifteen thousand, were encamped in the neighbourhood of Pau 

 Mountain, a hill which we could see from the ship, and which is 

 only twenty miles distant The Macolo dialect is the same as 

 that used by the black natives of the island. 



Mozambique Island is a mile and a half long by a quarter of a 

 mile in width, and is separated from the mainland by a shallow 

 channel one mile broad, through which the ebb and flood tides 

 run with great velocity. Considering the small area of the place 

 the population is dense, amounting altogether to seven thousand. 

 It is composed of African blacks. Banyans from Kutch and 

 Gudjerat in Hindostan, Portuguese, Arabs, and English. There 

 are only five of the latter nationality ; viz., the British Consul, 

 Mr. O'Niel (late Lieut. R.N.); Mr. Cassidy, superintendent of the 

 telegraph cables ; Mr. Parlett, agent for the British India Steamers ; 

 and two telegraph operators. The number of Portuguese forming 

 the garrison of the island amounts to two hundred and fifty ; and, 

 besides these, there is a detachment of sixty soldiers stationed on 

 the adjoining shore of the mainland. 



There is- a local trade in an intoxicating liquor called " Caju," 

 which is made from the fermented juice of the soft part of the 

 cashew fruit, by distillation. It is said that a tablespoonful of 

 this liquor is sufficient to intoxicate an ordinary man, and to 

 give him a fearful headache as well. 



I spent several hours, while the tide served, in exploring the 

 neighbouring reefs for shells and other marine specimens. Among 

 the former were three species of cowries, C. Tigris, C. JManritiana, 

 and C. Moncta ; a large Fiisus, a Haliotis, a Volute ; an Ostrcea, 

 a Conus, a Tridacna, and a Pinna ; while on the beach we found 

 Naticas, NerifitMs, and Pitiuas. Several Echitwdenns were also 

 seen, comprising four Ophinrids, and three or four Astcrias. Of 

 the latter, there was one huge species of a blood-red colour on 

 the upper surface, and gaudily variegated with round blotches of 

 yellow. Among Crustaceans, the most common form was a 

 Calappa. Grapsus was also represented, and a few Maioid species 



