142 Of the Ufcfulnefs of Attention 



of the rarities of this ifland. Wc admire, and 

 are aftonifhed. The remarkable trade wind, 

 which blows fouth-weft one half of the year, 

 and north-eafl the other half (including the 

 time of change), in the Cbinefe fea, has obliged 

 fome Swedifl) fliips, which arrived after the 

 fetting in of the contrary wind, to lie by half a 

 year together at Java, or fome other ifland. 

 If one attentive perfon mould be found among 

 fo many people, the difadvantage arifing to 

 the company from this delay would be ba- 

 lanced by enriching Natural Biftory and other 

 fciences. The Indian medicinal herbs, and 

 other things which the Dutch pour in upon us 

 from Eajl India, whofe native foil we are in 

 general unacquainted with, would, at leaft, in 

 part become more known : but the traveller 

 ought firft to be acquainted with an apothe- 

 cary's fhop, and the writers on Indian natural 

 productions. It is worth enquiring, befides, 

 whether the Dutch take in natural faltpetre as 

 ballad at Java, refine it, and afterwards fell it 

 to us and to others at a great profit* 



Passing by Sumatra, we were all reminded 



of its gold mines, but probably may never 



have any opportunity to fee them. The incon- 



flancy of the wind, the falling of the water, and 



6 a dan- 



