COKAL ISLAND. 



79 



nortli-west not mentioned in ITorsburgli nor in any 

 of our diartsj we hauled up, intending to anclior near it, 

 and ascertain its correct position. Wo graduall}'- reduced 

 tlio qimntitj'' of sail set, as we neared the island ; and so, 

 %vith tlie leads going in tlie chains, look-out men at the 

 majst'liead, and an occasional cast of tlie deep-sea lead, 

 we approacbcd the lee-side, and got within cable's length 

 of the heacli without obtaining bottom at 120 fathoms. 

 A line of brca^kcrs with oTcrfalls extended off tho north- 

 west enil, having the appearance of a shelf of rocks ; but 

 these proved to bo nothing but a tide ripple^ as we stood 

 into them. Tho island was very small, and had the same 

 appearance all round. On landing, we found a patch of 

 glaring white sand without a vestige of vegetation, sur- 

 rounded by a belt of coral about a mile and a half in 

 circumference, and m steep that I believe we might have 

 rubbed the sides of the M^mnder against it, without 

 obtaining bottom with the hand-leads. The centre was 

 covered with a variety of sea-birds ■ their ncw-laid eggs 

 proved excellent eating. The birds themselves were in 

 every stage of growth— from the little gaping nudity, 

 just introduced into tho world, to the old full-grown 

 guardians of their progeny', which shrieked and hovered 

 over our heads^ disputing our landing so pertinaciously that 

 we were obliged to knock them down with sticks, while 

 on the living, two or three at a time. 



We found on this lonely coral island the solitary grave 

 of a Mussulman. Here was, indeed, a resting-place likely 



