32 ARRIVE AT Mj4URITI1TS. 



On May 2 the vicinity of land was denoted by the 

 appearance of foxu" tropic birds {Phaeton eetherens) 

 and a tern ; and next evening-, shortly before sunset, 

 we sighted the Island of Mauritius, the Bamboo 

 Mountain at Grand Port being- the first part seen. 

 We rapidly closed in with the land, and during- the 

 night were near enough to see the surf on the 

 coral reefs fi'inging the shore, it assuming the ap- 

 pearance, in the bright moonshine, of a sandy beach 

 of ghttering whiteness. 



Captain Stanley remarks, that " the reef on the 

 east side of the island projects further than is laid 

 down on the Admiralty chart, and as from the pre- 

 valence of the S. E. trade a current is constantly 

 setting to the westward, vessels approaching this 

 part of the island should be very cautious, even 

 with a leading wind, not to get too close in with the 

 land until the passage between Gunner's and Round 

 Island is well, under the lee. At night, also, the 

 distance from the land, when off the N. E. end of 

 the island, is very deceiving, as the plains of Pam- 

 plemousses are very low. The R-attlesnake, in pass- 

 ing at night between the Gunner's Quoin and Flat 

 Island, experienced a strong set of nearl}- three 

 mUes an hour to the westward, which at times is 

 said to be much stronger, and partakes in some 

 measure of the nature of a tide." 



May 4:th — When I came upon deck I found that 

 we had rounded the north end of the island, and 

 were beating up for Port Louis. It was a delightful 



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