Proceedings of the South African Philosophical Society. xxii 
ORDINARY MONTHLY MEETING. 
August 1, 1900. 
L. PERINGUEY, President, in the Chair. 
The SecRETARY read a letter from Sir David Gill thanking the 
Society for its congratulations. 
Mr. Waupron, Public Works Department, was nominated for elec- 
tion as an ordinary member by Drs. CoRSTORPHINE and GILCHRIST. 
Messrs. Wm. Craic, C. W. Matty, Wma. RosBEertson, and 
W. HE. M. Stanrorp, C.M.G., were elected ordinary members. 
The SECRETARY read a second report on the mud island which 
appeared off Pelican Point at the beginning of June, from Mr. 
Cleverly, R.M., Walfish Bay, and showed the photographs taken * 
by Mr. Waldron, Public Works Department. The report and 
photographs were forwarded to the Society by Mr. Stanford. 
Mr. CLEVERLY reported that the island no longer existed on 
June 7th, it having then entirely subsided, as, on steaming over 
the site, soundings of six and seven fathoms were obtained. The 
sea was much discoloured and a distinct odour of sulphur was still 
to be distinguished. Small quantities of dead fish were found on 
Pelican Point, but this is a not unusual occurrence. About the 
time of the island’s appearance heavy rollers set in along the coast, 
and though these did not affect Walfish Bay, thirty yards of the 
~ new breakwater at Swakop Mouth were totally destroyed, a derrick 
carried away, and two men drowned. Though these rollers are 
usually experienced on this coast in the winter months, Mr. 
Cleverly understands that the engineer in charge at Swakop 
Mouth had set up a theory that the damage to his works resulted 
from an earthquake wave, and that he pointed to the appearance 
of the mud island at Walfish Bay in support of his theory, but in 
Mr. Cleverly’s opinion the cause of the upheaval must have been 
extremely local, as no disturbance whatsoever was felt at the 
settlement or in the confined waters of Walfish Bay. 
Mr. Wawuprovn, on the invitation of the President, gave an account 
of his visits to the island. It was visited on June lst, 2nd, and 4th. 
At next visit on June 7th there was no island. On June Ist one 
member of the party landed and noticed a small basin-shaped 
hollow containing water and emitting gas bubbles. The odour was 
distinctly that of sulphuretted hydrogen. 
In reply to a question Mr. Waupron stated that sulphur was. 
found on the shore in certain holes. 
Dr. MaruotH, who had formerly visited Walfish Bay, stated that 
d 
