1774. ftraggling village, above all the mangroves, there we land ed,
September.^ were fhewn frefli water. The ground near this village
Monday 5. finely cultivated, being laid out in plantations of fugarcanes,
plantains, yams, and other roots; and watered by
little rills, conduced by art from the main ftream, whofe
fource was in the hills. Here were fome cocoa-nut trees,
which did not feem burdened with fruit. We heard the
crowing o f cocks, but faw none. Some roots were baking
on a fire, in an earthen jar, which would have held
fix or eight gallons ; nor did we doubt its being their own
manufacture. As we proceeded up the creek, Mr. Forfter
having fhot a duck flying over our heads, which was the
firft ufe thefe people faw made of our fire-arms, my friend
begged to have i t ; and when he landed, told his countrymen
in what manner it was killed. The day being far fpenr,
and the tide not permitting us to flay longer in the creek,
we took leave of the people, and got on board a little after
fun-fet. From this little excurfion, I found that we were to
expeCl nothing from thefe people but the privilege o f vifiting
their country undifturbed. For it was eafy to fee they had
little elfe than good-nature to beftow. In this they exceeded
all the nations we had yet met with; and, although it did
not fatisfy the demands of nature, it at once pleafed and
left our minds at eafe.
Tneflzy 6. Next morning we were vifited by fome hundreds of the
natives; fome coming in canoes, and others fwimming off;
fo that before ten o’clock, our decks, and all other parts of the;
fhip, were quite full with them. My friend, who was of
the number, brought me a few roots, but all the others
came empty in refpeft to eatables. Some few had with
them their arms, fuch as clubs and darts, which they exchanged
for nails, pieces of cloth, &c. After breakfall, I
fent
fent Lieutenant Pickerfgill with two armed boats to look for Scp,t7e^ er
frefh water; for what we found the day before was by no >----y-~
means convenient for us to get on board. At the fame time,
Mr. Wales, accompanied by Lieutenant Clerke, went to the
little ifle to make preparations for obferving the eclipfe of
the fun, which was to be in the afternoon. Mr. Pickerfgill
foon returning, informed me that he had found a ftream of
frefli water, pretty convenient to come at. I therefore ordered
the launch to be hoifted out to complete our water,
and then went to the ifle to aflift in the obfervation.
About one P. M. the eclipfe came on. Clouds interpofed,
and we loft the firft contact, but were more fortunate in the
end, which was obferved as follows:
By Mr. Wales with Dollond’s 3.1 foot achromatic . , , .■ >
refraftor, at - - - - - - - ^ T j'S
By Mr. Clerke with Bird’s 2 fóóf refleétor, at - 3 28 52*- > 3
And by me with an 18th inch reflector made by • g.
Watkins • ■ - - - - - - 3 2^ 5 3 * j
Latitude of the ifle or place o f obfervation 2cP iy' 39" South.
Longitude per diftance of the fun and moon, and moon and
ftars, 48 fets, 164° 41' 21" Eaft.
Ditto per watch 163 58 o.
Mr. Wales meafured the quantity eclipfed by a Hadley’s
quadrant, a method never before thought of. I am of opinion
it anfwers the purpofe o f a micrometer to a great degree
of certainty, and is* a great addition to the ufe of this
molt valuable inftrument. After all was over, we returned
on board, where I found Teabooma the chief, who foon
after flipped out of the fhip without my knowledge, and by
that means loft the prefent I had made up for him.
Si;