THE LACCADIVES AND THE WEST COAST. 455 
I saw nothing specially noticeable in this island beyond 
the general appearance of superior comfort amongst the in- 
habitants. One shrub, a Daphne (Hernandia peltata, Meiss- 
ner) with broad cordiform leaves, and large glossy whitish 
drupes, containing a black seed or nut, I saw here for 
the first time, but the plants generally were those already 
noticed. As for birds it was the same story ; ; on land nothing 
hut White-eyed Tits, a Kestrel and a pair of Peregrines, and on 
the shore the ubiquitous Turnstone. Nothing else, though we 
traversed every part of the island, which we did not “leave 
till dusk, piloted out safely, despite "darkness and surf, by our 
loquacious friend. He insisted, late as it was, on paying the 
“Clyde” a visit. He had conceived an immense fondness for the 
steam cutter; our little engines seemed to be a source of in- 
tense delight to him. Their rapid click-clack, click-clack 
seemed to have an inspiriting effect on him, and from the 
moment we cleared the breakers, until we ran alongside the 
“Clyde,” he sung in the most energetic manner what we under- 
stood to be a love song, keeping time scrupulously with the 
beats of the pistons. When on board he suggested that, as 
we could easily get another where we were going to, we should 
leave the steam-cutter with him, but, meeting with no encour- 
agement in this direction from us, he went away ultimately 
with a few seers of fine rice, quite happy, in a_pitch-dark 
night and a nasty sea, and duly lit, as he promised, a large 
torch on the point when he landed to show us that he had 
safely crossed the reef. 
February 23rd.—When about 18 miles from Kalpeni, in Lat. 
10°6'4"; N. and “Long. 73°17'5 E., we took soundings and 
found bottom at 990 fathoms. This was of course still well 
within the group, and helped us in no way towards the depth of 
the trough dividing the group and the mainland. 
In the evening we made Kalpeni and got just in the right 
place to anchor at the 8. W. corner. The word was given to 
let go, the vessel gave a heavy roll, and the anchor caught in 
the bo’sprit chains. This was the port anchor, the gear of 
the starboard anchor we had carried away the day before, and 
we drifted off the scanty bank of soundings before we could 
get the port anchor disengaged. Then of course, though we had 
a fresh breeze, no power on earth could make the old “ Clyde” 
work up a yard to windward. » We did try it, and made several 
tacks, but never gained an inch, for, though she might lie up a 
little higher, she always sagged bodily to leeward, and at last 
we had to give it up and bid farewell to the Laccadives. 
February 24th.—We hove to again in N. Lat. 9°46’8,” and 
E. Lat. 74°34’8” to sound. This was as nearly as possible 
Kio 
