KAGNABAK ISLAND, BISSAGOS ARCHIPELAGO. 
579 
almost destitute. As a consequence they suffer largely from colds, 
chest complaints, &c. Their old method of daily anointing the body 
with cocoanut oil was more healthy than their present practice, I think. 
Unless there is a decided improvement in the habits of the 
people, the Rotuman race will soon be extinct. If this comes to pass, 
the island, being so unheal thy, is not likely to be occupied by much 
white settlement, but may afford, a comfortable abode for some of the 
overflowing population of India, China, or Japan. 
9.— A VOYAGE TO KAGNABAK ISLAND, BISSAGOS 
ARCHIPELAGO* 
By MAX ASTRIE, M.G.S . , Marseilles, late Vice-Consul for Turkey , Corresponding 
Member of the Geographical Society of Marseilles. 
[Translated by A. J. Boyd, Hon. Sec., Sec. E.] 
On the 8th June, 1894, I happened to be at Senegal at the con- 
clusion of a tour of inspection on account of the “ Societe Flers- 
Exportation,” when I received a letter from my dear friend and 
colleague, M. Paul Arm and, General Secretary of the Koval Geogra- 
phical Society of Marseilles, inviting me to contribute a paper to the 
Geographical Section of the Australasian Association for the Advance- 
ment of Science, whose annual meeting is to take place in January, 
1895, at Brisbane, Queensland. Such a request was far from dis- 
pleasing to me. Besides the friendship with which our eminent and 
beloved General Secretary has honoured me for so many years, I was 
not sorry to have the opportunity of exploring Kagnabak Island, so 
little known to geographers that nothing has as yet been given to 
the world concerning its topography and ethnology. 
I accordingly at once made my preparations and quitted Dakar 
on the 11th June, 1894, on board a sloop named the “ Savorgnan de 
Brazza.” 
The ship’s company numbered seven, all told, including natives 
of Senegal, a native interpreter from the Guinea coast, named 
Ounouma, I making the seventh. 
I laid in a stock of provisions for two months, and ten bales of 
goods suitable to be given as presents to the various “ kinglets” of 
the countries I was about to explore. I give the list, which I after- 
wards found pinned to roy travelling note-book : — 
f. c. f. c. 
50 kilos leaf tobacco, at ... ... ... 2 00 100 00 
3 kegs, each 100 litres brandy, at ... 6000 180'00 
50 dozen knives, at 600 300 00 
10 barrels trade gunpowder, each 4 livre, at 3 00 30 00 
200 coloured cottonade handkerchiefs, at 0 40 80'00 
50 kilos Venetian beads, glassware, &c., at 2*00 lOO'OO 
Total F. 790*00 
On the 18th June, at 6 a.in., I arrived off the island of Galinha 
after a very fair passage void of accident or incident. This island, 
although situated in the centre of a maze of currents and counter- 
currents, badly defined on the charts, is nevertheless very easy of 
approach. 
* Portuguese Guinea, N. W. Africa. 
