288 
SURVEY OF THE INTERTROPICAL 
1819. hard sand. From the colour of the sea, it ap- 
= Sept. 16. peared that we were in a deep channel, ex- 
tending towards Lacrosse Island : from light 
winds, our progress was so slow, that sunset 
overtook us before we had formed any plan for 
anchoring; our soundings were between twenty 
two and eighteen fathoms hard sandy bottom : 
the tide was ebbing. The idea of standing 
out for anchorage, after having toiled for the last 
three days against foul winds and other obstacles, 
was particularly revolting ; and increasing dark- 
ness found me quite at a loss what course to 
pursue ; for Lacrosse Island appeared so rocky, 
that I despaired of finding anchorage near it: 
having, however, two days before, seen a white 
beach off its south-east end, (which subsequently 
proved to be composed of stones whitened by 
the effect of the weather,) we stood towards it as 
a last resource ; and, on our way thither, we 
passed over a muddy bottom, upon which the 
anchor was dropped in eight fathoms, at about 
two miles from the north-west end of the island. 
This day, as usual, many medusa were seen ; 
and also a snake, three feet long ; its back was 
black, the belly yellow, and the tail striped 
17. black and white. In the morning, we landed 
upon the island, at a place which had the ap- 
pearance of containing fresh water; and after 
