On the ſhore were Sea guanas and turtles; the latter, were of that kind, which bears a variegated ſhell. The guanas are ſmall, and of a ſooty black, which, if poſſible, heightens their native uglineſs[1]. Indeed, ſo diſguſting is their appearance, that no one on board could be prevailed on, to take them as food. I found the turtles, however, far ſuperior to any I had before taſted. Their food, as well as that of the land tortoiſe, conſiſts principally, of the bark and leaves of trees, particularly of the mangrove, which makes them very fat; though, in rainy ſeaſons, when vegetation is more general, their food may be of a more promiſcuous nature. The green turtles are extremely fat, and would produce a large quantity of oil. Their ſhell is alſo very beautiful; and if that ſhould be an article of any value, a ſmall veſſel, might make a very profitable voyage, to this place. The land tortoiſe was poor at this ſeaſon, but made excellent broth. Their eggs are as large, and their ſhell as hard, as thoſe of a gooſe, and form a perfect globe. Their neſts, are thrown up in a circular form, and never contain more than three eggs, which are heated by the Sun,
- ↑ The ſea guana is a non deſcript: it is leſs than the land guana and much uglier, they go to ſea in herds, a fiſhing, and fun themſelves, on the rocks, like ſeals, and may be called alligators, in miniature.
