Friday 13th. We noticed here the remains of a Catholic church or chapel, and its great bell that was wont to arrest the pious traveller in his journey to and from the Lake, now lies prostrate at the foot of the belfry, still in a good state of preservation; but evidently having long since ceased to wag its monitory tongue! The remains of a sort of pavement seem to indicate the site of a considerable town.

The bongo we passed two days ago, arrived at this place this morning, and a canoe laden with corn and other provisions from the Island of Solentinane, where it is said there are several agricultural settlements. Her crew consisted of three women and a male coxswain. The former paddled, and appeared to be quite adepts in their occupation; they were remarkably clean in their dress and person, the latter by no means deficient in point of beauty; but I cannot say so much for their modesty and morale.

The commandant must have been, either very studious, very sleepy, or very tipsy, for we did not see the light of his countenance, nor hear of him since our audience of yesterday. In such a place as this he cannot often have an opportunity of showing off his importance, and on that account one would have expected a little more attention and civility, but, perhaps, he had not yet recovered from the effects of his indulgence. We remarked this morning that with the wind at E.N.E. the lake had again risen to its former level, proving that the Padrone was quite right.

Sounding round the Morro Point, I found that the depth varies from one and a half to two fathoms; the best guide in the dry season when there is only six feet in the deepest channel," is," the Padrone says, "to steer direct from this point to the northern extreme of Solentinane.'

Having obtained observations we left San Carlos at 3h. 45m. P.M., paddling along the north shore of the lake till we came to Lime Point, about one mile and three-quarters distant from the Morro Point, when we made sail, put the log over, and steered N.b.W. (magnetic,) with the wind at E.N.E., No. 4 or 5; weather exceedingly fine. Running along shore at the distance of one and two miles, the land appeared to be low and swampy, near the margin of the lake, but gradually rising to one and two hundred feet, and overgrown with a few trees of small growth; here the soundings were ten feet, and then gradually decreased till we came abreast of Punta del Toolê, about two miles and a half from Cay Bookeet, where a small rivulet, named Rio de las Marias, empties itself. At this time the patent log showed 15.2 miles. At 9h. 30m. P.M. we arrived at San Miguelito where we remained for the night, the weather fine.

Saturday 14th.-At daylight we looked round the settlement of San Miguelito, which is a small village containing about fifteen huts, situated on a declivity eighty or one hundred feet above, and less than half a mile from the lake: a few acres of land surrounding the huts have been cleared away leaving a pleasant open grass plot, where the soil appears to be rich and fertile.

We saw few men at this place, their occupation being pastoral, they had left their homes before daylight to look after their herds grazing on the neighbouring hills and savannas, and would not return till the afternoon to take their siesta. The women, of whom we saw several, ENLARGED SERIES.-NO. 1.-VOL. FOR 1841.

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are many of them rather pretty and well dressed, their principal garment being a sort of petticoat, and their busts slightly covered with a thin jacket, giving their "tout ensemble" an air of gracefulness, which I little expected to have met in such a place; others were bathing as usual in their birth-day suit, or in other words, in all their naked beauty, near the spot of our observations.

Here we found a bongo lading with cheese, jerked beef, &c., the produce of the adjacent country. Of the latter we found it again necessary to purchase a "roba," equal to 25lbs., which cost three-quarters of a dollar bullocks may here be had for four and a half dollars, fowls for one-quarter, eggs and milk for a mere trifle.

The height of Solentinane peak, &c., I found to be eight hundred feet, and San Bernado three hundred and seventeen feet high.

The first point we passed is called Padernal, where there are a few houses on its western extremity, said to be a good place for live stock, but having supplied ourselves at the place from which we last started, we did not land here.

Again running along shore at the distance of a quarter, and sometimes one mile;-here there is nothing striking in the features of the land, which near the beach is low, but not swampy, and strewed with small detached pieces of rock, evidently bearing the impress of volcanic action. At a short distance inland hills of one and two hundred feet begin to rise, not much wooded, but thickly grass-clad, and affording pasturage to numerous herds of cattle: here we saw several small huts the residences of drovers.

Passed the small river Guapola, at two P.M. landed to dine on Punta de la Haing where we afterwards obtained observations; and at four P.M. sailed with a delightful sea breeze, the sky nearly cloudless.

The hills on this side of the lake, divested of forest clothing remind me of those of Portugal, and the north coast of Spain. At sunset we passed a bongo going to the eastward, but did not speak her: at this time saw the peak of Ometape clear, and well defined, its summit having all the appearance of a crater.

The night was unusually clear and beautiful, not a cloud to be seen, wind easterly, and canoe gliding along at the rate of four knots. At eight P.м passed Nanci Tal Cays, and at 9h. 30m. landed for the night at Punta Pederosa.

Between this and Punta de la Haing three rivulets, viz. Rio Oyate, Rio Rapel, and Rio Burro Negro, discharge themselves into the lake. Sunday 15th.-At daylight proceeded on our voyage with an easterly wind and fine weather, steering along shore at the distance of one and one and a half mile. The mountain of Alto Grande was now seen ahead a beautiful object, and significant of its name, clothed to its summit with the brightest verdure where thousands of cattle might be reared ; its height we since determined to be 3,149 feet. There is no appearance of any thing like cultivation along the whole of this side of the lake, all is natural pasturage and meadow land. The Padrone informed us that the inhabitants on the north side of the lake depend in a great measure on those of Ometape for provisions, their own soil not being considered sufficiently productive; but I should rather be inclined to ascribe the cause to their want of industry.

At 8h. 30m. A.M. we passed Point Myalli, and the river of that name, and soon afterwards were abreast of Point Congregal, between which and the former, the land is low and swampy, and so continues as far as the Isla Muerta; but beyond the Rio Wapenolapa which we passed at ten A.M., it is gradually acclivitous till within two or three miles of the high land of Santa Cruz.

The breeze began now to freshen so much, that our canoe was in danger of being swamped, running before a short topping sea, by which, and the rain together, we were completely drenched.

At 11h. A.. we arrived at the small island of Muerta, where I took observations and breakfasted, and we dried our clothes, the rain still descending in occasional showers, with heavy gusts of wind. From this position, (about fifty feet high,) we saw the volcanic mountain of Mombo Tombo, situated north of Leon on the margin of the Lake of Nicaragua. At 2h. 30m. P.M. took our departure for Granada, with the weather still so squally, that we were soon obliged to shorten sail and keep away, shipping a good deal of water. In the course of the afternoon, however, it moderated so much that we were again enabled not only to carry all sail, but found it necessary to resume our paddles, in order that we might reach Granada at a reasonable hour. Temperature of the lake 81°,-air 79°.

The mountains and plains to the north-west began now to appear in all their native verdant beauty, unlike anything among the West India Islands. Instead of being densely overgrown with impervious forests, they are clad "in Nature's universal robe," and seem to invite the location of the settler. The peaks of Ometape, Madeira, and Mombo Tomb, must I imagine appear very distinct and remarkable objects from the Pacific. The hill of Granada, whose height we have since ascertained by calculation to be 4,480 feet above the level of the lake, must also be very conspicuous at the same distance, but Mr. Bailey thinks otherwise. In crossing from the Isla Muerta to the town of Granada, we found the soundings to run from six and a half to six fathoms. At 7h. 30m. p.m. we landed on the beach, near the old battery of Granada, and hauled up the canoe. Taking with me the Padrone as a guide and interpreter, I immediately waited upon Mr, Bailey, (a Lieutenant of Marines on half-pay, long resident in this country,) whom I found with Mr. Higgins, a respectable American merchant, or rather agent, lodging at a Mrs. Shepherd's. The former received me with all the kindness and cordiality of a countryman, and at my request conducted me to the house of the Gefe Politico, or chief authority, but finding that he had left town, for his country estate, I delivered my official letter of introduction from the commandant at San Juan, with a promise that it should be immediately forwarded to him. Having done what I conceived, and what Mr. Bailey, who knows the manners of the country, considered quite sufficient in the way of politesse, we returned to observe for latitude, &c. To guard against any accidents that might happen to the chronometers, as well as to keep the Indians together, I thought it prudent, instead of accepting Mr. Bailey's invitation to take up our abode with him, to remain by the canoe all night, in which, as hitherto, we had managed to sleep tolerably well.

CHUSAN ISLAND.

THE following sketch of Chusan Island appears in a pamphlet on the China trade, published a few years ago. by Sir James Urmston, who presided for some years over the East India Company's affairs at Canton.

"The Island of Chusan is the largest and principal of a considerable group generally called the Chusan Islands, or Archipelago. It is situated in latitude 30° 26' N., and longitude 121° 41′ E. of Greenwich. The extent of the island is about twenty-seven miles in length from N.E. to S.W., and about fifteen miles in breadth from N.W. to S.E. The island is about ten or twelve miles to the north-east of Kitow Point, which is the extremity of a long mountainous promontory of Cheekiang province to which Chusan appertains, and the nearest approach of Chusan to the main land of China is at this place; it is therefore situated at a very inconsiderable distance from that part of China which avowedly comprises the most fertile and productive, as well as the most flourishing and opulent provinces and districts of the empire, and where the most extensive trade and manufactures are carried on; and in a climate well known to be the most salubrious of any part of China.

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"The island abounds in excellent fresh water in all directions. The English once traded at Chusan, and in fact had a commercial establishment there, as well as at Ningpo, a very large and important trading and manufacturing city and sea port, standing immediately opposite to Chusan on the shore of a fine smooth water river, running up to it from the sea. The celebrated grand canal which forms the communication between the north and south provinces of the empire commences, at its southern entrance, a short distance from Ningpo, affording a ready and important transit for goods and merchandize of all descriptions between nearly all parts of the country, the very extensive and important trading and manufacturing cities of Hanchow-foo, Chapo, Shunghaum, and Lookoo, &c. are all in this vicinity, and all close to the great river Yangtsekiang which passes Nanking, the ancient capital of China, in its majestic course through the heart of the empire. Chusan is not only most advantageously placed for general trade, but is in fact close to those districts which are more immediately connected with the British and other foreign trade, that is at no great distance from the tea and silk districts, and from those marts where British merchandize is required and diffused, as well as those articles of commerce which are exported to China from our dominions in India.

"It may be observed also that Chusan is well situated for communications with Japan, should we ever be enabled to open a negociation, and establish a trade with that singular country. It may moreover be stated that Chusan is particularly well adapted for offensive or defensive naval and military operations as well as for intercepting the Chinese coasting trade, which navigate the whole coast of China to an immense extant and amount. It lays, in fact, in the very track of that trade, and the junks which trade with Manilla, Cochin China, Siam, Batavia, Singapore, and other places to the southward of China on their homeward voyages make, or endeavour to make the Lamock islands, a

group of islets off the east end of Canton province in about latitude 23° N., and longitude 117° E., and from thence they coast it up to the various parts they may be bound to in the provinces of Fokeins, Chekiang, Kiangnan, and Shuntung, and to the Gulfs of Pecheli and Leotong, passing on their way through the Formosa Channel, and between the Chusan Islands and the main land of China. The harbour of Chusan is on the south-west side of the island, it is about three miles in extent from east to west, and somewhat more than a mile from north to south. The depths in the harbour are from five to nine fathoms. The rise and fall of the tide is about twelve feet.

The approach to the harbour is among several smaller islands, those on the south-west side forming its boundaries, in that direction. The harbour itself is entirely sheltered from all winds, and the water consequently perfectly smooth. Ships of any burthen may anchor or moor in the harbour of Chusan in perfect security. The chief town or city of Chusan is Tinghai, about a mile or two from the harbour; and close to the shore in the harbour there is a village: it was at this latter place where we had formerly a commercial establishment. The city of Tinghai is of some size, and the population no doubt extensive. The entire population of the island of Chusan has not been ascertained. The principal Chinese officer commanding at Chusan, is understood to be generally a Tsungping, corresponding with our rank of a MajorGeneral, or Rear-Admiral, and there is generally a squadron-of-war junks stationed at the Chusan Islands, which cruize about in that vicinity. It is stated that provisions are abundant at Chusan.

"Viewing the question of a settlement on the coast of China, in all its bearings, it appears unquestionable that Chusan possesses advantages infinitely superior to any other of an insular nature, along the whole coast of China, and were we so fortunate as to be established there, there is every reason to believe that a most extensive and valuable trade would soon arise, largely benefitting the Chinese of all ranks and classes in that quarter, and proving, as it doubtless would, most advantageous and important to British enterprise and commerce."

THE PICKLE BANK, SOUTH OF CUBA.

H.M.S. Pickle, Havana, 27th August, 1840. SIR.-I beg to inform you, that in making a passage from Port Royal, Jamaica, to this port, I struck soundings at 7h. P.M. on the evening of the 19th of August, in fifteen fathoms hard sand, and continued sounding in fifteen, fourteen, and seventeen fathoms, for an extent of two miles, steering a W.b.N. N. course. Lost soundings at 7h. 40m. P.M., and observed latitude by Polaris, to be 20° 17′ 20′′ north, latitude by D.R., 20° 20′ north, longitude computed by D.R., from good forenoon's sights, 80° 23′ 0′′ west. On looking at the charts, late English and Spanish, I find a small patch laid down in latitude English 20° 10′ north, Spanish 20° 11' north, and longitude English 80° 2' west, Spanish 80° 38' west, as having been seen in 1800, and conclude that this must be the same over which I passed, but which I have always considered as doubtful.