184 CRUISE OF THE BARRERA 



excellent salve which we applied like butter on 

 bread. The debilitating moist heat of the scrub 

 forest was getting in its insidious work. When 

 we finally returned to the deserted house we were 

 exhausted and in the physical condition of depleted 

 vitality that invites any infection. 



The dredging party picked us up in the launch 

 a little later and all returned to the schooner. 

 The search for an offshore bank or shoal had been 

 unsuccessful. Several such places are doubtfully 

 indicated upon a general chart of Cuba (there are 

 no detailed charts of this region) , and vessels have 

 reported from time to time other uncharted danger 

 spots off Cape San Antonio. Our Patron insisted 

 that beyond the reefs and shoals that fringe the 

 shore there is nothing but deep blue water. At 

 all events the launch party were unable to locate 

 any shallows beyond the line of green water. 

 Bartsch made a number of hauls in seventy-two 

 feet and a second series of dredgings at an average 

 distance of a quarter-mile out from a point oppo- 

 site the light to Cape Cajon, three to four fath- 

 oms. This is a bottom of coral sand with patches 

 of grass and sponge and is constantly swept by 

 strong currents. The results were not brilliant, 



