furprifing. We were told that the whole ifland can fup-
port 3000 head of cattle, but that there were only 2600
upon it at that time. From the number of fields which
we faw unoccupied, we judged that a much greater number
might find fufficient food; but we were allured that
the grafs does not grow" up again during winter, and that
a certain number of fields mull be referved for that feafon.
The beef is juicy, delicious, and very fat, and the conftant
confumption of it prevents the cattle growing old on the
ifland. The common furze or gorfe (ulex europeeusj which
our farmers take great pains to eradicate, has been planted
here, and now over-runs all the paftures. The inhabitants
have found means to draw advantage from a fhru'b, which
has univerfally been efteemed ufelefs and pernicious. The
afpedt of the country was not always fo delightful as it is
at prerent; the ground was parched by the intenfe heat,
and all kinds of herbage and grafs were fhrivelled up.
The introduction of furze bathes, which throve as it were
is defpite of the fun, preferved a degree of moifture in the
ground ; under their thade the grafs began to grow, and
gradually .covered the whole country with a rich and beautiful
fod. At prefent the furze is no longer wanted, and
the people afliduoufly root it out, and make ufe of it for
fuel, which is indeed very fcarce upon the ifland, though I
never faw a more (economical ufe made of it than there, and
.at.the Cape. It is really furprifing to fee a variety of ditties
drefled,
drefled, efpecially at the laft mentioned fettlement, with no ,j77j
greater fire than an Englifli cook would make under a fmall
tea-kettle.
In our return we faw feveral coveys of partridges, which
are of the fmall red-legged fort, common on the coaft of
Africa. We likewife faw feveral beautiful ring-pheafants,
which have been introduced into the ifland by the governor,
together with guinea-hens and rabbits. There is at
prefent a penalty of five pounds for killing a pheafanr, by
which means they multiply fo fall, that the rcftriftion will
foon be needlefs. Several other ufeful importations might
ftill be made, which would contribute to the greater oppu-
lence of the people. Snail-trefoil and clover might be
fowed, which would doubtlefs give more fubllantial food
for the cattle than grafs alone; and the cultivation of pulfe,
fuch as carvanfes and Chinefe beans (dolichos fmenfis & phafeolus
mungo), of which fago is made in the province of Georgia,
in North America *, cannot be too frequently recommended.
A little perfeverance, and a few trials, would eafily fucceed in
deftroying the rats and caterpillars, which now devour many,
ufeful plants ; and thefe appear to be the principal obftacles
to agriculture on the ifland. Aflfes ought; to be carried:
•* T h is is equal in goodnefs to the real fago, which is the- pith-of a fern-in the
eaftern iflands o f India, T h e North American fort is now. well known in England,
by the name of Bowen’ s fago-powder, and the royal navy, is fupplied-;
with it.
thither