OH, A TklV ’x'O ‘i'HK MAINLAHD. 
29 
that many more persons die from this cause, or the effects of the 
nostrums resorted to, than from the pernicious effect of the bite 
itself. After a stay of some two hours we bid adieu to Mr. Eiley 
with many thanks for his kindness and courtesy, and embarked 
for our homeward voyage. The wind was light, and consequently 
the bar at the river mouth was comparatively easy to cross. 
When we were safely over (the wind being unfavorable) our 
‘‘ Captain” decided to make the mainland,* to the southward of 
^‘Baboon Cay” and to reach the point aimed at, we had to traverse 
a stretch of water 25 miles in length. With an unfavourable 
wind this was no mean task, but we had every confidence in the 
capacity of our Captain” and his crew to take us safe to our 
destination. The canoe headed therefore in the direction indica- 
ted, but being close hauled” she did not make such headway as 
we should have wished, which resulted in landing us in a shady 
cove, on a firm sandy beach, near a turtle-fisher’s hut which had 
been built near the margin of the forest. The boatmen were well 
acquainted with the navigation of the Lagoon and it was decided 
to await a change of the wind, which they from experience 
knew would arise from the land, sometime after nightfall. It 
had taken us from 2.30 to 6.30 p.m. to cross the stretch . of 
water before alluded to, and consequently our commissariat ar- 
rangement was for the moment our chief concern, we therefore 
proceeded to satisfy the -wants of the body and here, the Penelope, 
the bird formerly alluded to, came into requisition and we were 
served with it cold. It was simply delicious, very tender, and 
more like pheasant than the male bird we had formerly disposed 
of. It was washed down with a bottle of Gringer Ale, and feeling 
very happy in the bright moonlight we seated ourselves on a fallen 
log, and fell into a discussion on the doctrine of Evolution and 
other polemical subjects which helped to while away the hours. 
Suddenly before we felt the wind, we had a call from the boat 
which had anchored some distance out, to make preparations 
for embarking, and ere we had time to do this, we found that a 
splendid breeze had sprung up, but being too low down on a lee 
shore we had to row up to the point before we could again make 
sail. Once at the point, our progress was rapid, and our ^urse 
lay for a passage between Pope Island and the Mainland. There 
was' a very rough sea on, but the night was clear and cool, and 
we proceeded merrily along. As we reached the passage t e 
wind fell off and the oars had once more to be brought into requi- 
sition. Through the passage, the Lagoon is studded with numer- 
ous small Cays, consisting of mere coral rock covered with man- 
grove trees. The mention of mangrove trees, here reminds me 
that I have somewhere seen it mentioned, that these plants appeared 
to be of little economic value, It was my fortune, however, to notice 
