]f32 TRAVELS IM 
an(f of raking advantage of this occaficn to e^-* 
amine at leifure the bottom of the Bay. He 
not only received me with cordiality, but, upoR 
the pretext that it was neeefiary to arrange the 
fmall colkdion of infecls and birds w^hich had 
been the fruit of my journey, preffed me to= 
fpend a few days with him. Wifliing to vifit 
Cape Falfe, and the fhores oppofite the Bay, I 
accepted his invitation, and the next morning 
early a fifhing-boat that I met Vv^lth conducted 
Hie thither. In traverfmg this quarter, I beheld 
with aftonifliment thofe immenfe hills of fhells^ 
and fand which, manifeftly formed by the fea^ 
afterwards ferved it as a fhore, and are at p^^e- 
fent at a confiderable diftance from it. Thefe 
undoubted monuments of its abode convinced 
me, that this fea penetrated formerly to what 
is now a part of the m.ain land, and that it rofe 
there to a great height ; that it has fmce very 
confiderably retired, andj confequently, that^it 
daily lofes ground, though It appears that it 
ought daily to gain, by the frequency of the 
ftorms, and the violence of the vv^Inds, which 
mceffantiy drive it towards the coafts. After 
my return from this trip, I fpent two days more 
with the commandant. Six hours, at mofty 
were 
