Chap. 1Y. 
PRAIA OF SHIMUNL 
249 
the mass of vegetation. The sand-bank, which lies at 
the upper end of the island extends several miles, and 
presents an irregular, and in some parts, strongly waved 
surface, with deep hollows and ridges. When upon it, 
one feels as though treadinsf an almost boundless field 
of sand : for towards the south-east, where no forest-line 
terminates the view, the white, rolling plain stretches 
away to the horizon. The north-easterly channel of the 
river lying between the sands and the further shore 
of the river is at least two miles in breadth ; the 
middle one, between the two islands, Shimuni and 
Baria, is not much less than a mile. 
We found the two sentinels lodged in a corner of the 
praia, where it commences at the foot of the towering 
forest-wall of the island ; having built for themselves a 
little rancho with poles and palm-leaves. Great precau- 
tions are obliged to be taken to avoid disturbing the 
sensitive turtles, who, previous to crawling ashore to lay, 
assemble in great shoals off the sand-bank. The men, 
during this time, take care not to show themselves and 
warn off any fisherman who wishes to pass near the place. 
Their fires are made in a deep hollow near the borders of 
the forest, so that the smoke may not be visible. The 
passage of a boat through the shallow waters where the 
animals are congregated, or the sight of a man or a 
fire on the sand-bank, would prevent the turtles from 
leaving the water that night to lay their eggs, and if 
the causes of alarm were repeated once or twice, they 
would forsake the praia for some other quieter place. 
Soon after we arrived, our men were sent with the net 
to catch a supply of fish for supper. In half an hour. 
