cylinder was taken off in a fort of concave quarter-round ~r
but in others the cylinder was entire.
From this place they followed the direction of the coaft to
the N. E., the man with the flag ftill leading the way. For
about three miles they found the country very barren, and in
fome places ftript of the foil to the bare rock, which feemed
to be a poor fort of iron ore. Beyond this, they came to
the moft fertile part of the ifland they faw, it being inter-
fperfed with plantations of potatoes, fugar canes, and plantain
trees, and thefe not fo much encumbered with ftones.
as thofe which they had feen before; but they could find no
water except what the natives twice or thrice brought them,
which, though brackifh and {linking, was rendered acceptable,
by the extremity of their thirft. They alfo paffed fome
huts, the owners of which met them with roafted potatoes
and fugar-canes, and placing themfelves ahead of the fore-
moft of the party (for they marched in a line in order to
have the benefit of the path), gave one to each man as he
paffed by. They obferved the fame method in diftributing
the water which they brought; and were particularly careful
that the foremoft did not drink too much, leaft none
fhould be left for the hindmoft. But at the very time the'fe
were relieving the thirfty and hungry, there were not wanting
others, who endeavoured to fteal from them the very
things which had been given them. At laft, to prevent
worfe confequences, they were obliged to fire a load of fmall
{hot at one who was fo audacious as to fnatch from one of
the men the bag which contained every thing they carried
with them. The {hot hit him on the back; on which he
dropped the bag, ran a little way, and then fell; but he
afterwards got'.up and walked, and what became of him
they knew not, nor whether he was much wounded. As
7 this
this affair occafioned fome delay, and drew the natives to-
gether, they prefently faw the man who had hitherto led ^3^7^
the way, and one or two more, coming running towards
them; butinftead of flopping when they came up, they continued
to run round them, repeating, in a kind manner,
a few words, Until our people fet forwards again. Then
their old guide hoifted his flag, leading the way, as before,
and none ever attempted to fteal from them the whole day
afterwards.
As they pafied along, they obierved on a hill a number of
people collected together, fome of whom had fpears in their
hands; bur, on being called to by their countryman, they
difperfed; except a few, amongft whom was one feemingly
of fome note. He was a flout well-made man, with a fine
open countenance, his face was painted, his body puncflured,
and he wore a better Ha hem, or cloth, than the reft. He fa-
luted them as he came up, by ftretching out his arms, with
both hands clinched, lifting them over his head, opening
them wide, and then letting them fall gradually down to his
fides. To this man, whom they underftood to be the chief
of the ifland, their other friend gave his white flag; and he
gave it to another, who carried it before them the remainder
of the day.
Towards the eaftern end of the ifland, they met with a
well whofe water was perfectly frefli, being confiderably
above the level of the fea; but it was dirty, owing to the
filthinefs or cleanlinefs (call it which you will) of the natives,
who never go to drink without wafhing themfelves all over
as foon as they have done; and if ever fo many of them are
together, the firft leaps right into the middle of the hole,
O o 3 drinks.