A TRIP TO TRINIDAD. 



367 



mingle with each other, and yet the slightest change 

 in the soundings influence the thermometer. 1 * 



I was surprised to find that east of the small cay 

 Don Cristobal, the deep soundings are not marked 

 by the milky color of the water, as is the case on 

 Shark Shoals south of Jamaica, and in many other 

 places where I have observed with £he thermometer. 

 The bottom of the Gulf of Batabano is a sand of 

 decomposed coral, bearing sea-wreck that barely 

 reaches to the surface. The water is greenish, as we 

 have already noted, and the absence of the milky 

 color arises, without doubt, from the perfect calm that 

 reigns in these places ; for wherever the water is 

 agitated to a certain depth, a very fine sand, or the 

 particles of limestone held suspended in the water, 

 make it turgid and give it the milky tinge. Yet 

 there are shoals which are not distinguished either 

 by the color or the lower temperature of the sea, and 



1 1 observed the following readings by Reaumer's thermometer : 



Sea. 



Air. 



Depth. 





19°.T 



22°. 3 



10 feet. 



Eight miles N. of Punta Gorda. 



18°.8 



23°.0 



1\ " 



Between Las Gordas and Don Cristobal Cays. 



19°.7 



22°.2 



10 " 



Near Cay Flamenco. 



20°.7 



22°.0 



80 " 



Deep soundings between Cay Flamenco and 









Cay de Piedras. 



19°.6 



24° .2 



9 « 



Eastern margin of same, very near Cay de 









Piedras. 



18°.2 



24°.3 



8 « 



A little further east. 



21°.5 



23°.0 





No bottom south of Jagua. H. 



