(185 ) 
ON THE APPEARANCE AND DISAPPEARANCE OF A 
MUD ISLAND AT WALFISH BAY. 
By F. W. Watpron, A.M.I.C.E. 
(Read August 1, 1900.) 
Plates XXVIITI., XXIX., XXX., XXXI. 
In submitting the facts in connection with the appearance and 
disappearance of a mud island in Walfish Bay, it will perhaps be 
advisable to give first a description of the locality in which the 
phenomena took place, together with the information which is 
furnished in the South African Pilot, No. 2 of 1884, pp. 208-210. 
WALFISH Bay. 
‘Pelican Point, the western point of Walfish Bay, lies south 69 
miles from Cape Cross, the intervening coast, which bends to the 
eastward, is distinguished by white sandhills of moderate elevation 
falling suddenly to the sea. It is entirely free from any known 
danger excepting off the River Swakop, and there are depths of 4 to 
6 fathoms at the distance of a quarter of a mile off shore. Pelican 
Point is in latitude 22° 52’ 30” S., longitude 14° 27’ 15” H. 
‘‘Walfish Bay was surveyed in 1825 by the officers of H.M.S. 
Leven, and the information resembles most of the other harbours on 
this coast as far north as St. Paul de Loando. Its westerly side is a 
sandy peninsula nearly four miles in length, terminating at its 
northern end in Pelican Point, where the breadth of the entrance 
is 32 miles. 
“The Bay is spacious and safe, being protected on all sides 
excepting the north and north-west, whence winds are fortunately 
not of frequent occurrence. All the shore is of sand, and the 
soundings regular from 8 to 3 fathoms, but within the peninsula, 
along the western shore of the Bay, the water is ea and the 
coast at the bottom of the Bay low and marshy. . 
‘‘The River Kuisep runs into the depth of this Bei It trends to 
