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lebtuary». veins of coarfe quartz, which commonly follow the direction
o f the other; though they fometimes interfeft it. The
mould, or foil, .which covers this, is alfo of a yellowilh caft,
not unlike marl; and is commonly from a foot to twb, or
more, in thicknefs.
The quality of this foil is belt indicated by the luxuriant
growth of its productions. For the hills (except a few toward
the fea, which are covered with fmaller bufhes) are
one continued foreft of lofty trees, flourilhing with a vigour
almoft fuperior to any thing that imagination can conceive,
and affording an auguft profpeit to thofe who are delighted.
with the grand and beautiful works of nature.
The agreeable temperature of the climate, no doubt, contributes
much to this uncommon ftrength in vegetation.'
For, at this time,, though anfwering to our month of Auguft,
the weather was never difagreeably warm ; nor did itr
raife the thermometer higher than 66°. The winter, alfo,.,
feems equally mild with refpeit to cold : for in June 1773,.
which correfponds to our December, the mercury never;fell
lower than 48°; and the trees, at that time, retained their
verdure, as i f in the Summer feafon; fo that, I-believe,
their foliage is never fhed, till pufhed off by. the.:Succeeding:
leaves in fpring.
The weather, in general, is good; but fomqjimes windy,,
with heavy rain; which,- however,,never lafts above a day;.
nor does it appear that it is ever exceffive. Eor there are no
marks of torrents rufhing down the hills, as in many countries
; and the brooks, if: we may judge from their channels,
feem never to be greatly increafed. Fhave obferved,
in the four different times.of my being here, that the winds
from.
from the South Eaftward are commonly moderate, but attended
with cloudy weather, or rain. The South Weft
winds blow very ftrong, and are alfo attended with rain;
but they feldom laft long. The North Weft winds are the
moft prevailing; and though often pretty ftrong, are almoft
conftantly connected with fine weather. In ihort,
the only obftacle to this being one of the fineft countries
upon earth, is its great hillinefs; which, allowing the woods
to be cleared away, would leave it lefs proper for pafturage
than flat land ; and ftill more improper for cultivation,
which could never be effected here by the plough.
The large trees which cover the hills are chiefly of two
forts. One of them, of the fize of our largeft firs, grows
much after their manner.; but the leaves, and fmall berries
on their points, are much liker the yew. It was
this which fupplied the place of fpruce in making beer ;
which we did with a ftrong decoction of its leaves, fermented
with treacle or fugar. And this liquor, when well
prepared, was acknowledged to be little inferior to the
American fpruce beer, by thofe who had experience of both.
The other fort of tree is not unlike a maple ; and grows
often to a great fize; but it only ferved for fuel, as the
wood, both of this and of the preceding, was found to be
rather too heavy for mails, yards, and other fimilar repairs.
There is’ a greater variety of trees on the fmall flat fpots
behind the beaches. Amongft thefe are two that bear a
kind of plum of the fize of prunes ; the one yellow, called
karraca; and the other black, called maitao ,• but neither o f
them o f a very agreeable tafte ; though the natives eat both,
and our people did the fame. Thofe of thè firft fort grow
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