Page:Narrative of a Voyage around the World - 1843.djvu/193

1837.] has coral sand for its substratum, skinned over with a covering of mud and soil, on which rank grass luxuriates.

Fish appear to be numerous, particularly sharks; and the dead shells on the beach, including almost every known species in these seas, hold out a prospect of employment for the conchologist.

But the capricious character of the ocean about these islands renders visits at any time hazardous, as a few moments may imprison the naturalist for weeks. Ten years since, nearly to a day, I found landing on any part of these shores impracticable, although the weather previously had been fine.

Here Vancouver tried ineffectually for water, and I was induced, by the assertion of a master of a vessel belonging to San Blas, "that wells were sunk, and good water conveniently to be had," to make this examination. It is not improbable that if wells were sunk, water could be obtained; but is the result worth the trouble or risk?

On the 20th of December we anchored off San Blas, and found no letters; that dreadful damper after long-cherished expectation, and particularly on such a service as the present, where year after year fate may send them without a chance of reaching us.