THEPACIFICOCEAN. 225 



thai there are fome running dreams which we did not fee, '778- 



. February. 



cfpecially in the deep valleys, at the entrance of which 

 the villages commonly (land. From the wooded part to the 

 fea, the ground is covered with an excellent fort of grafs, 

 about two feet high, which grows fometimes in tufts, and, 

 though not very thick at the place where we were, feemed 

 capable of being converted into plentiful crops of fine hay. 

 But not even a ftirub grows naturally on this extcnfu'^ 

 fpace. 



In the break, or narrow valley, through which wc had 

 our road to the tnorai, the foil is of a brownifh black colour, 

 fomewhat loofe; but as we advanced upon the high ground, 

 it changed to areddifli brown, more ftifT and clayey, though, 

 at this time, brittle from its drynefs. It is moll probably 

 the fame all over the cultivated parts ; for what adhered to 

 mod of the potatoes, bought by us, which, no doubt, came 

 from very different fpots, was of this fort. Its quality, 

 however, may be better underllood from its producTis, than 

 from its appearance. For the vale, or moiil ground, pro- 

 duces tciro, of a much larger fizc than any we had ever feen ; 

 and the higher ground furniflies fweet potatoes, that often 

 weigh ten, and fometimes twelve or fourteen pounds j very 

 few being under two or three. 



The temperature of the climate may be eafily guQlled 

 from the fituation of the ifland. Were we to judge of it 

 from our experience, it might be faid to be very variable ; 

 for, according to the generally received opinion, it was 

 uow the feafon of the year, when the weather is fuppofcd 

 to be moft fettled, the fun being at his greateft annual dif- 

 tance. The heat was, at this time, very moderate ; and 

 few of thofe inconveniences, which many tropical countries 

 arc fj-ibje^l to, either from heat or moiflurc, feem to be 



Vol. II. G g expe- 



