22 COOK'S VOYAGE TO FEB. 



yellowish cast, not unlike marl; and is commonly 

 from a foot to two, or more, in thickness. 



The quality of this soil is best indicated by the 

 luxuriant growth of its productions. For the hills 

 (except a few toward the sea, which are covered 

 with smaller bushes) are one continued forest of 

 lofty trees, flourishing with a vigour almost supe- 

 rior to any thing that imagination can conceive, 

 and affording an august prospect to those who are 

 delighted with the grand and beautiful works of 

 nature. 



The agreeable temperature of the climate, no 

 doubt, contributes much to this uncommon strength 

 in vegetation. For at this time, though answering 

 to our month of August, the weather was never 

 disagreeably warm; nor did it raise the thermometer 

 higher than 66. The winter, also, seems equally 

 mild with respect to cold: for in June, 177^, which 

 corresponds to our December, the mercury never fell 

 lower than 48; and the trees, at that time, retained 

 their verdure, as if in the summer season; so that, I 

 believe, their foliage is never shed, till pushed off 

 by the succeeding leaves in spring. 

 i The weather, in general, is good, but sometimes 

 windy, with heavy rain; which, however, never lasts 

 above a day, nor does it appear that it is ever ex- 

 cessive. For there are no marks of torrents rushing 

 down the hills, as in many countries; and the brooks, 

 if we may judge from their channels, seem never to 

 be greatly increased. I have observed, in the four 

 different times of my being here, that the winds from 

 the S. eastward are commonly moderate, but attended 

 with cloudy weather, or rain. The S. W. winds blow 

 very strong, and are also attended with rain; but 

 they seldom last long. The N. W. winds are the 

 most prevailing; and though often pretty strong, are 

 almost constantly connected with fine weather. In 

 short, the only obstacle to this being one of the finest 

 countries upon earth is its great hilliness, which, 



