226 
DOTTINGS ON THE ROADSIDE. [Chap. XIV.-B.P. 
The whole coast-line from here to Monkey Point is 
fringed with shoals, rocks, and cays, and it is neces¬ 
sary to give these awkward customers a wide berth; 
the irregularity of the currents, so fruitful a source of 
danger all oyer the West Indies, rendering great vigi¬ 
lance necessary at all times, but especially when in 
soundings; indeed, in this part of the world it is ab¬ 
solutely necessary to have your eyes “ skinned ” at 
all times. 
On the third day we passed Old Providence and 
St. Andrew’s, two beautiful and fertile islands, capable 
of producing a large amount of cotton and sugar; the 
former island attains a height of nearly 700 feet, and 
is of considerable size ; the latter is smaller and lower, 
its highest peak being only 340 feet, its area about 
4500 acres. Of Poncador and the Corn Islands I 
shall say nothing now, as, in common with Old Pro¬ 
vidence and St. Andrew’s, it will be necessary to refer 
to them more fully hereafter. All the places I have 
mentioned were left well on the starboard-hand, and 
we had already dipped well into the fifth day when the 
old 1 Gorgon ’ arrived in close proximity to Greytown. 
It was raining in torrents, or rather buckets’ full,—a 
sort of young deluge, which must be felt to be under¬ 
stood ] the atmosphere was loaded with moisture, and 
so thick that it was difficult to see more than a 
quarter of a mile around. Under such circumstances, 
it was necessary to approach the land with extreme 
caution, but, by groping along, feeling our way with 
the lead very carefully, the anchorage was at last 
safely reached, and the ship anchored in Greytown 
