166 cook's voyage to dec. 



hemisphere, under the same parallel of latitude, af- 

 fords so scanty a field for the naturalist as this barren 

 spot. The verdure which appears, when at a little 

 distance from the shore, would flatter one with the 

 expectation of meeting with some herbage ; but in 

 this we were much deceived. For on landing, we 

 saw that this lively colour was occasioned only by 

 one small plant, not much unlike some sorts of saxi- 

 frage, which grows in large spreading tufts, to a con- 

 siderable way up the hills. It forms a surface of a 

 pretty large texture, and grows on a kind of rotten 

 turf, into which one sinks a foot or two at every step. 

 This turf, dried, might, in cases of necessity, serve 

 for fuel, and is the only thing we met with here that 

 could possibly be applied to this use. 



" There is another plant, plentifully enough scattered 

 about the boggy declivities, which grows to near the 

 height of two feet, and not much unlike a small cab- 

 bage, when it has shot into seeds. The leaves about 

 the root are numerous, large, and rounded; narrower 

 at the base, and ending in a small point. Those on 

 the stalks are much smaller, oblong, and pointed. 

 The stalks, which are often three or four, all rise 

 separately from the root, and run into long cylindrical 

 heads, composed of small flowers. It has not only 

 the appearance, but the watery acrid taste of the an- 

 tiscorbutic plants, and yet differs materially from the 

 whole tribe ; so that we looked upon it as a produc- 

 tion entirely peculiar to the place. We ate it fre- 

 quently raw, and found it almost like the New Zea- 

 land scurvy-grass. But it seemed to acquire a rank 

 flavour by being boiled ; which, however, some of 

 our people did not perceive, and esteemed it good. 

 If it could be introduced into our kitchen-gardens, it 

 would, in all probability, improve so far by cultiva- 

 tion, as to be an excellent pot-herb. At this time, 

 none of its seeds were ripe enough to be preserved, 

 and brought home, to try the experiment. 

 " Two other small plants were found near the brooks 



