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two of the midshipmen from the Forte and myself we set oft 
to make an attempt to land. We got close to the breakers, 
when a person on shore signalled to us to go back as it was 
impossible a boat could live in the sea then running, and very 
reluctantly we returned to the ship, which was not done with- 
out some trouble on account of the strong current, and the 
waves curling all round us. 
“ This islaud is leased to a person from Mauritius who reaps 
a profit from the eggs collected there and sold at Mahe. It 
is astonishing to see the immense numbers of black birds hov- 
ering over it, the Anons Stolidus. It resembled a rookery on 
a large scale and the birds appear to be as resentful of intru- 
sion on their domain as rooks are, for they say, no other birds 
are found here. The smell of the guano was very disagreeable, 
and the proprietor told me he intended to begin to collect it 
for exportation. The manner of procuring fresh eggs is curious. 
A patch on the sand is cleared from stones, and old eggs, and 
on the following morning it is found covered with new laid 
ones, as these birds build no nest. We could see over the 
Island which is destitute of vegetation, mere barred granite 
rocks, with here and there patches of soil from their degrada- 
tion, and some spots of sand on the shore. There are two 
sma 1 huts on it for the guardians. 
“ We strained from Reciffe to Frigate Island, which is about 
50 miles from Mahe. We saw great numbers of that species 
of Porpoise called by w'halemen the cow-fish. They are of an 
olive brown with a white stripe from head to tail, and as they 
followed the ship constantly leaped out of the water often many 
feet in an oblique direction, but as we were steaming and 
sailing fast, wo soon left them behind. Large turtles lay ap- 
parently asleep floating on the waves, for our passing did not 
seem at all to disturb them. When about 3 miles from Frigate 
Island there is a strong current, and one single rock just shews 
above the waters, which break madly round it. At a short 
distance from it are soundings over 50 fathoms, so that very 
probably it is the top of some submerged mountain of a former 
continent. 
“ We ran in round this rock and fired a gun. We could 
