136 PERCY SLADEN TRUST EXPEDITION. 
found. We stopped at a point midway between the banks ; but subsequent soundings 
by the Sealark continued the line, showing that from about our then position the 
two banks to the north and south gradually shoal upwards. From here we turned 
westward, skirting the Fortune, another large submerged bank with 10 fathoms or so 
of water, and anchored off Coetivy about noon on Sunday, Sept. 10. Going ashore, we 
were most hospitably received by M. G. B. de St. Romain and M. Bernon, the managers 
for Mr. Chas. Dauban, of Mauritius. The same day we made a preliminary exploration 
of the island, with Dr. Simpson botanising and Mr. Fletcher entomologising. The 
results were so satisfactory that we decided to remain while the Sealark went to the 
Seychelles to coal. We had considerable collections, and accordingly spent the Monday 
on board, personally seeing to the various points on which their welfare would depend 
while in transit home. Finally, we made up seven large cases to be left at Mahé, while 
a similar number of cases were to be brought from there. While doing so, the divers 
were sent down around the ship in about 10 fathoms for their quarterly dip. They sent 
up to us a number of reef-corals, some of which when broken up yielded a rich variety 
of worms and other living forms. There were also letters and reports to be written, and 
all shore-collecting and camping gear to be carefully selected. 
The Sealark left us at Coetivy on Tuesday, Sept. 12, and returned for us on the 21st. 
We were uot able, however, to leave until the 25th, as she had got her piston-rod 
slightly bent in the heavy weather experienced on her passage down from the Seychelles. 
It seemed at first sight to be an accident serious enough to necessitate our sailing down 
to Mauritius for repairs. Mr. Beer, however, took the engine to pieces and raised it a 
few inches, so as to relieve that part of the shaft which was bent. He and his staff 
worked on it day and night for three days; and on its completion it proved absolutely 
successful, no further alteration being made until the ship arrived in Ceylon at the 
completion of the cruise. It was a magnificent piece of work, and one which reflects 
great credit on the Service. This delay gave us twelve days for the examination of the 
island and its reefs. The last three days, however, were of no value to us, on account 
of the unusually hot damp weather and the glare on the white sand-dunes and open land 
having completely tired us out by the time the Sealark arrived. However, it enabled 
us to round off our work properly, and Fletcher added a few new insects. During our 
stay we had managed to visit every part of the reef and had collected over it in eight 
positions at low tide. We also traversed the whole island, collecting its animals and 
plants, and examined every part. Day after day the routine was more or less the same ; 
but the kind of work on land and reef has already been sufficiently indicated. Much 
of the collecting was a dull grind under unfavourable conditions, since few of the forms of 
life were new to us, although necessary for the purpose of subsequent comparison (Pl. 17). _ 
Coetivy lies in a north-and-south direction on the east side of a shoal, and is about 
6 miles long by 14 miles across its broadest part. The village hes on the middle of its 
west side. ‘The island is fringed by a reef, except for a mile and a half to the south of ‘ 
the village, where there is a series of isolated coral-patches. The reef is very imperfect 
off the north point, where the mud and sand stirred up by the prevailing set of tides 
and currents along its east and west reefs have prevented organic growth. ‘To the south 
