■496 IGUANAS^ — TAGUS COVE RIPPLES. Oct. 



is a dirty orange red, inclining to reddish brown al)ove and 

 yellow beneath. These reptiles burrow in the earth like rab- 

 bits, and are not bad eating. Of the black kind a vast num- 

 ber run about the rocks near the sea, living either upon fish or 

 sea-weed. As we went afterwards in a boat along the ragged irre- 

 gular shore, we saw numbers of turtle. There are small sandy 

 beaches here and there, to which these animals approach in the 

 evenings : when, as it gets dark, they land and usually lie on 

 the beach during the night, even if it is not the season in which 

 they seek a place for their eggs. 



From a height near Tagus Cove dismal indeed was the view, 

 yet deeply interesting. To see such an extent of country over- 

 whelmed by lava, to think of the possible effects of the seven 

 dormant volcanoes then in sight, and to reflect that at some 

 one period all was activity and dreadful combustion where we 

 then witnessed only silent desolation, was very impressive. 



2d October. We passed this day and the following night in 

 Banks Bay. On the 3d, Mr. Mellersh returned, having exa- 

 mined Elizabeth Bay and the western shore of Narborough 

 Island. We then went round the north-west end of Albemarle 

 Island, and passed the night under sail off the north ex- 

 treme. At daybreak, on the 4th, we made all sail towards 

 Abingdon Island, which is small, rather high, and tolerably 

 covered with stunted wood ; we did not maintain a posi- 

 tion even near where I wished to pass the night, but were car- 

 ried about forty miles away, dead to leeward, during only 

 a few hours of light wind. The current hereabouts runs 

 between one and four knots an hour to the north-westward, 

 yet the depth of the water is unfathomable by ordinary means : 

 excepting for which it is like a vast river in the sea. 



5th. While working to windward, endeavouring to regain 

 our lost ground, we saw Bindloes Island : and passed through 

 many ripplings, some of them dangerous for a boat ; these were 

 northward, and rather eastward of Abingdon. During the 6th, 

 other indications of a strong current were noticed, besides rip- 

 plings such as these, which, in very deep water, and in the open 

 sea, are difficult to explain : sometimes at night, while all 



