186 Transactions of the South African Philosophical Society. 
the southward for a distance of about 35 miles, and then turns 
sharply to the eastward into the interior... . | 
“ Remarkable Soundings.—The soundings on all this coast are 
dark muddy. sand, the action of which upon metals turns them black, 
which effect was produced upon our leads and chain cables, making 
them appear as if painted.”’ 
DESCRIPTION OF THE Mup ISLAND. 
On the Ist of June, 1900, Miss Cleverley, the daughter of the 
Resident Magistrate of Walfish Bay territory, whilst scanning the 
horizon with a field-glass from the settlement at the head of the Bay 
saw a dark object resembling the hull of a vessel lying inside the 
Bay, just off Pelican Point, a distance of 64 miles from the settle- 
ment. To ascertain what this object was, steam was immediately 
got up in the launch, and Mr. Cleverley, with a small party, pro- 
ceeded to the spot. As Pelican Point was neared, it was found that 
a mud island had appeared on the inner side at about 100 yards 
from the shore. (See Chart, Plate XXVIII.) 
Careful soundings taken close to and around the island gave 
depths of 7 to 8 fathoms. The dimensions were approximately 
150 ft. long, 30 ft. wide, and the height 15 ft. above the surface of 
the sea; the sides under water appeared to be nearly vertical, but 
above water pieces had been washed off by the sea, giving the jagged 
appearance shown on the photograph (Plate XXXI.). Whilst we 
were there several large pieces fell off into the sea. 
A very strong odour of sulphuretted hydrogen pervaded the spot, 
and steam appeared to issue from the northern end of the mass. I 
was afterwards told that the smell from the island was noticed at 
Swakopmund, a distance of 25 miles from Walfish Bay. 
The next day (June 2nd) we visited the island to make a more 
minute examination. Soundings were taken again with similar 
results. Lieutenant Gutsche, of the Cape Garrison Artillery, swam 
off from a boat, it not being possible to land otherwise, and procured 
a specimen of the mud. 
Since the previous day a large quantity of the material had fallen 
off into the sea. Steam was still seen issuing from the same spot. 
We had no means of making temperature observations of the mass 
or of the water, but Lieutenant Gutsche said he felt no heat on the 
island, and the water was very cold. 
The water around the island was dirty, and the surface covered 
with bubbles. A few dead fish were found upon Pelican Point. 
On the 4th of June another visit was made, The size of the 
