244 THE ARCTURUS ADVENTURE 



into the interior, which they described as a lake, or 

 large sheet of water. This would account for fresh- 

 water fish in West Bay. The quantity of water 

 we had noticed in streams, waterfalls, etc., and 

 which were not much augmented by heavy rains, or 

 by the stream in our immediate vicinity, must be 

 supplied from this lake. No rains could preserve 

 the volume and equality for twenty-four hours." 



He also planted vegetable seeds. 



"Before my departure I used every persuasion 

 with the masters of the Americans to take these un- 

 fortunate people away, as well as pointing out to 

 the people themselves the misery they must endure, 

 and the foul suspicions which the next vessel would 

 entertain of their conduct; but only one embarked." 



A year later, April 7th, 1839, "at nine we 

 anchored, all heartily anxious to escape a rainy 

 season in our present jaded state. An American 

 whaler, according to their praise-worthy habit of 

 assisting any friend in view, sent her boats to assist 

 in towing the Starling to her anchorage; but we 

 were too far out to partake of her aid. 



"On the morning following, I landed to obtain 

 observations, and the early part of the day cer- 

 tainly led me to anticipate all I looked for, but noon 

 destroyed my hopes, the rain falling in a complete 

 deluge. I succeeded, however, in obtaining the 

 requisite data, and also witnessed the effect of the 

 heavy rains on the streams ; converting a very quiet 

 brook into a turbulent rapid in the course of a very 

 few hours. 



"On my last visit, I mentioned that three men 



