1 78 Pearls, 



spot was decided upon, and a well was sunk through 

 20 feet of rock, below which a fair supply of good 

 water was fortunately found. A beacon has now 

 been erected to guide vessels into the group and to 

 the well of fresh water. 



Early in January the two ships returned to the 

 Gulf, finding the water warm at last, and all the 

 other pearlers doing fairly well, but the ground did 

 not suit the Sooloo men. 



In February all the fleet went into a creek and 

 beached for shelter, the barometer having fallen un- 

 usually low, and the weather looking very threatening, 

 but they escaped without a '' blow " and returned 

 to work after four days. As stinging weed and 

 fishes were plentiful, and the water was very thick, 

 the " Sree Pas-Sair " and the " Ivy " returned to the 

 Montebellos. Beautiful weather set in, and every 

 morning the water was as smooth as oil, the shell 

 being seen from the top. The daily work was 

 performed with ease and profit ; but unfortunately 

 " Beri-beri " commenced to show itself amongst the 

 Sooloo men. A dropsical tendency appeared, and 

 half the men had to stop work. A house was built 

 ashore, and flour substituted for rice, and to this is 

 attributed the unusually low mortality. Four men 

 died, and to save the others, a premature return had 

 to be made. Cossack was again visited, to obtain 



