TOBAGO BOCCA DEL DRAGO. 51 



not be administered to him, he was removed to an 

 airy place near the hatchway, and left there, his 

 death being expected every moment. The transi- 

 tion from a hot and stagnant to a fresher and purer 

 atmosphere gradually restored him, and his recovery 

 furnished the doctor with an additional proof of the 

 necessity of bleeding and evacuation, — a treatment 

 of which the fatal effects soon became perceptible. 



On the 13th, early in the morning, very highland 

 was seen. The wind blew hard, the sea was rough, 

 large drops of rain fell at intervals, and there was 

 every appearance of stormy weather. Considerable 

 doubt existed as to the latitude and longitude, which 

 was however removed by observations made by our 

 travellers, and the appearance of the island of To- 

 bago. This little island is a heap of rocks, the daz- 

 zling whiteness of which forms an agreeable contrast 

 with the verdure of the scattered tufts of trees upon 

 it. The mountains are crowned with very tall 

 opuntiae, which alone are enough to apprize the nav- 

 igator that he has arrived on an American coast. 



After doubling the north cape of Tobago and the 

 point of St. Giles, they discovered from the mast- 

 head what they regarded as a hostile squadron; 

 which, however, turned out to be only a group of 

 rocks, Crossing the shoal which joins the former 

 island to Grenada, they found that, although the 

 colour of the sea was not visibly changed, the ther- 

 mometer indicated a temperature several degrees 

 lower than that of the neighbouring parts. The 

 wind diminished after sunset, and the clouds dis- 

 persed as the moon reached the zenith. Numerous 

 falling-stars were seen on this and the following 

 nights. 



On the 14th, at sunrise, they were in sight of the 

 Bocca del Drago, and distinguished the island of 

 Chacachacarreo. When seventeen miles distant from 

 the coast, they experienced, near Punta de la Baca, 

 the effect of a current which drew the ship southward. 



