206 SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1819. j s i ail( j ; a t four miles from the shore, in eleven and 
June 22> a half fathoms’ mud, where we found complete 
shelter from the wind, which now blew a fresh 
gale from south-east. 
S3. The weather continued so unfavourable all the 
following day that we remained at the anchor- 
age, and made our stay profitable by filling our 
water-casks from a hollow at the back of the 
beach, which is composed entirely of coral that 
has been washed up by the surf. The coral was 
of various kinds, but a beautiful specimen of 
pontes clan aria was obtained by one of our peo- 
ple who dived for it in two fathoms’ water, 
within a few yards of the shore. In many parts 
the coral had been consolidated into large masses 
of solid rock. 
Tracks of natives were seen in many parts of 
the island ; and their beaten paths were noticed 
leading from the beach to all parts of it; but it 
did not appear that it was inhabited during our 
visit. This delay gave Mr. Cunningham a good 
opportunity of increasing his botanical collection. 
Among the various trees which grow upon this 
island, he found a nutmeg tree ( myristica ciml 
cifera ,) two species of olive ( oka paniculata 
and notolcza punctata ), and three palms, viz. the 
corypha australis or large fan palm, the sea- 
forthia elegans , and another, remarkable for its 
