•278 



THE CRUISE OF TEE 'CURAQOA.' 



tree Island.' We tlieii passed some rocks, called the ' Ass's 

 Ears,' lying at the eastern end of the island of Florida, 

 whi(ni we were soon coastingr along. This island, with its 

 belt of trees on the northern coast, is very striking. We 

 observed no mountains that appeared to exceed 2,000 feet ; 

 it somewhat reminded me of Norfolk Island, with its undu- 

 lations and scattered clumps of trees intermingled with a 

 good deal of grass laud. The grass, according to Bishop 

 Pattesou, is long and coarse. I could see plantations of 



ASS S EAIie, FLORIDA ISI.AND. 



bananas on the hill-sides, as well as cultivated grounds and 

 houses on their tops and slopes. Several of the hills had 

 one or more conspicuous trees upon them, and there were 

 many round pit-like looking places, resembling punch-bowls, 

 which appeared as if they had been craters. ISTumbers of 

 canoes came out after us. some very large ones full of 

 people. I saw two large canoe-sheds on shore before we 

 came to the point, and a great many natives sitting on their 

 haunches looking at us, a position in which, like animals, 

 they sit and gaze for hours. We passed the point which 

 forms the gulf on one side. There is a reef lying out a 



