A brig hove in sight to-day to the S.and E., approaching the islands on the starboard tack, until she became visible from the bridge, and then tacking--probably a Frenchman, making way from Vera Cruz to the eastward on the banks.
Took my usual afternoon stroll on shore.

About nightfall, the sky assumes a peculiarly lurid aspect, becoming dark overhead, whilst the western horizon is lighted up with the rays of the setting sun, although there is not a cloud visible.

One witnessing such a scene elsewhere would fancy himself on the eve of a storm; I attribute it to the reflection from the green waters of the bank.
We have cleared away all the old eggs from the gannets' nests, and these prolific layers are now supplying us with fresh.

Of fish we can catch none, except by trolling.

We have no better success with our turtle nets.
_Wednesday, December 31st_ .-- The weather has been good all day, though we have had a heavy surf on all the reefs, indicating that there is a gale somewhere in our vicinity--probably a norther, along the Mexican coast to the west of us.