356 Brief Account of the Iflands. of Banda, 



immediately, nautilus like, arefpread to wanton in the breeze. 

 And now, wholly emancipated, they ltretch their filken pinions, 

 and launch forth to run a new career, and 



Exulting fprcad the wing to fly aquatic care, 

 Then fpum the narrow cell, and, fan the buxom air; 



while the lifelefs cuticle, in form a (hark, in texture like the 

 pith of a quill, is now deferted, and left to rot on the furface 

 of. the water, while its former inhabitant and prifoner com- 

 mixes with beings of another element, and forgets his bafe 

 original. 



So men might take example by thefe flies, 

 Leave earthly: cares and emulate the Ikies. 



Some few, however, fell victims to that element which had 

 firft cherilhed them ; for if by any accident they happened 

 to fall into the water, and their wings got wet, they were in- 

 capable of difengaging tbemfelves (yet thofe that I taw fo cir- 

 cumftanced I fet at liberty) : others, though comparatively 

 few, came to the birth, and were incapable, through want of 

 flrength, to bring forth, in which cafe I undertook, by the 

 afliftance of two needles, the part of accoucheur and brought 

 them forth, though much maimed. 

 I remain, Sir, 



Your obedient Servant, 

 Mr. Tillocb. John Snart. 



LX. Brief Account of the Iflands of Banda. By a Gen- 

 tleman who furveyed themjince they came into the PoJfeJJion 

 of Great Britain *. 



X HE iflands of Banda, (ituated 130 miles to the fotith 

 fouth-eaft of Amboyna, are ten in number, viz. Banda Neira, 

 Gonong Api, Banda Lantoir, Pulo Ay, Pulo Rondo, Ho- 

 fyngen, Pulo Pifang, Craka, Capella, andSonangy; of thefe, 

 Banda Neira is the feat of the fupreme government of the 

 whole. In Gonong Api there is a volcano which conftantly 

 emits fmoke, fometimes accompanied with a crackling noife : 

 the furface of the ifland is covered with a quantity of fulphur 

 and chalk. There is no vegetation whatever on upwards of 

 one-third of the eminence on which the volcano is fltuated ; 

 there is a deep defcent on the outfide of it toward the fea, but, 

 towards the harbour, the declivity (lopes gradually to the 

 water, on the fide of which are fome plantations and a few 



* From the A/iatic Annual Re&ijler for 1S00. 



draggling 



