AFRO-INDIAN REGIONS. 



519 



the bottom came in sight, covered with living corals of different hues 

 in great variety ; but there were no traces of a coral-shelf, nor of ex- 

 posed coral-rock : the beach was composed exclusively of fragmentary 

 coral and shells; and immediately beyond, was an inundated mangrove 

 swamp. Following the beach Eastward, we soon reached a solitary 

 hill ; three hundred feet high, covered with bushes and briery Cap- 

 paris vines, and composed of volcanic congJomerate, or cellular lava 

 containing angular rocky fragments. From a tree, growing on the 

 summit of this hill, I obtained a view of the whole islet; in its con- 

 figuration presenting a decided approach to the annular coral-islands 

 of" the Pacific. The mangrove-swamp back of the beach was now per- 

 ceived to be somewhat extensive, the trees growing in bands and 

 patches in a sort of shallow lagoon ; and beyond, was what seemed to 

 be a detached islet, altogether low, and consisting of only a beach and 

 mangrove swamp. There was no wind ; the weather was exceedingly 

 hot and sultry; and in many places, the foliage was curled, as though 

 on the point of drying, an indication of more than usual heat and 

 drought. After proceeding along the face of the rocky hill until stopped 

 by overhanging swallow-caves, we returned to the boats. We next 

 landed on the Western end of the islet, where a coral-beach only sur- 

 rounded the mangroves in the lagoon : and after an interview with 

 some natives at the lagoon outlet, returned towards sunset to the 

 Vincennes. 



On the 6th, the Vincennes sailed; with a breeze from the Northward 

 and Westward, yet not so far ahead as to drive the ship from her 

 course ; and we made rapid progress through a sea very little rufiied. 

 We passed some low coral-islands, that altogether resembled those of 

 the Pacific ; but even from aloft, no traces could be distinguished of 

 an Interior lagoon ; perhaps present, but concealed behind the uni- 

 formly dense growth of trees. 



On the morning of the 7th, we arrived in sight of Kagayan Sulu ; 

 mountainous, and some ten miles in diameter, an island on a smaller 

 scale much resembling Sulu. At a little distance from the coast, were 

 some detached small rocky islets; but notwithstanding our rapid pro- 

 gress, Kagayan Sulu continued in sight the whole day. At night, we 

 took in sail, sounding at intervals until past midnight; when the ship 

 was anchored upon a shoal. 



On the morning of the 8th, the breeze was stronger, and the surface 

 of the ocean much rougher. The Vincennes proceeded, and a little 



