though we did not perceive any trees of great fize on the ifland, nor didi
it feem to afford any fireams or runs of frefh water. Some gullies were,
feen as we palfed along, which in addition! to the cheerful appearance of
the country, flattered us with the hope, that on further examination they
would he found to afford us the fupply of water we needed. Having, Ihort-
ly after noon, reached the fpot pointed out by former vifkors as mqft likely
to furnilh this effential article, we anchored on a clear fandy bottom, in
10 fathoms water, about three quarters, of a mile from the Store,, on- the-
north-eaftern fide of Prince George’s ifland; its eaft point bearing by
compafs s, 16 e ., about two miles, and a half diftant; its north-eaft point,
N. 68 w., diftant two. miles,; the north point of the northernmoft ifland,
N. 46 w., about 6 leagues diftant; and the moll fouthern ifland, which is.
the fmalleft, from s. 21 E. to. S;..45 E ., about 4 leagues diftant.
Two boats were immediately difpatched with Mr. Whidbey- and Mr.
Manby in different directions in quell of water, which however, if found,
would not be got on board without fome difficulty, on account of the-
furf which broke on every part of the fhore, but not fo violently as to-
prevent the parties from landing. In the evening both returned; Mr.
Whidbey had extended his excurfion to the north-weftward from our anchorage,
without finding any water, and Mr. Manby had been equally
unfuccefsful to the fouth-eaftward round the. fouth point of the ifland.
On its fouth-eaft fide the beds, of many fpacious. water courfes were feen,
which in the rainy feafon appeared to give vent to copious dreams, as
fome of them were twenty feet in width. In fome a moiftnefs was. obfer-
ved, and Mr. Manby was of opinion, that by digging wells, water might
have been procured. A fupply by this means was however, precarious,
and as we could not devote any time to uncertainties, I determined to depart
without further delay, and at eight o’clock we were again under fail.
Our vifit to thefe illands not having afforded us an opportunity of
making a very accurate delineation of their Ihores, or of acquiring fuch
information as might render them objeCts worthy the particular attention
of future vilitors to thefe leas, I have not fubjoined any Iketch of them,
and lhall content myfelf by noticing, that the anchorage we quitted, is
fituated according to our obfervations made on the preceding day, and
the
R O U N D T H E W O R L D . 345'
the day after we failed (not having obtained any obfervations on the day ig»*
of our arrival and departure) in latitude 210 2$', longitude 253° 54'; and 1— — 1
that in a direction h. 50 w . and s. 50 e, ; thefe illands occupy a fpace of
about 14 leagues; the length of the northernmoft has been already Hated,
its breadth is about nine miles; the next in fize and direction is Prince
George’s ifland, this is about 8 leagues in circuit; and the third, or
fouth-eafternmoft, is about nine miles round. In navigating; near diem
w e obferved no danger ; fome detached lflets and-rocks are about the
Ihores, but all are fufficiently confpicuous to be avoided ; and the regularity
of the foundings, fo far as our examination extended, gave us rea-
fon to believe, that fecure anchorage might be obtained a-gainft the prevailing
winds, at a commodious diftance from the fhore.
From the. gentlemen who had landed (being, myfelf from the ill ffiate of,
my health unable to go on fhore) I became acquainted, that the1 foil o f
Prince George’s ifland feemed to be principally of a fandy nature, on
which the chief valuable production was lignum vitas, befides which, was
an almoft impenetrable thicket of fmall trees and bullies of a thorny nature,
together with the prickly pear, and fome plants of the orange and
lemon tribe ; the whole growing as clofe. to the water fide as the waih of
the furf would permit.. Some of the lignum vitoe which was cut clofe to
the beach and brought on board, worked up full eight inches- in diameter
at heart ; this wood was very ponderous, of a clofe black grain,
and extremely hard. Before this time I did not recolleCt to have met with
this fpecies of wood growing on any of the illands in thefe feas, and it is
not improbable, that in the more interior parts of this ifland the trees may
be of a much larger fize. About the outlkirts of the woods, for excepting.
where in the rainy feafon the defcending waters had formed a path,,
the thicket was impenetrable; many birds were feen, thofe of the larger
kind were hawks o f feveral forts, green parrots with yellow heads, paroquets,
pigeons, doves, and a variety of fmall birds, many, of which were
of beautiful plumage. Pelicans, gulls, curlews, terns/ and fandpipers,
were obferved, but no quadrupèdes were feen, although in the fand on
the bottom of fome of the water-courfes Mr. Manby noticed the footing,
of an animal, which he confidered to be about the fize of a fox; many
turtle: