THEPACIFIC OCEAN. 85 



only the appearance, but the watery acrid tafle of the ami- i??^. 



fcorbutic plants, and yet differs materially from the whole • ^ ' 



tribe ; fo that we looked upon it as a producftion entirely 

 peculiar to the place. We eat it frequently raw, and 

 found it almofl like the New Zealand fcurvy-grals. But it 

 feemed to acquire a rank flavour by being boiled ; which, 

 however, fome of our people did not perceive, and efteemed 

 it good. If it could be introduced into our kitchen gardens* 

 it would, in all probability, improve fo far by cultivation, 

 as to be an excellent pot-herb. At this time, none of its 

 feeds were ripe enough to be preferved, and brought home» 

 to try the experiment. 



Two other fmall plants were found near the brooks and 

 boggy places, which were eaten as fallad ; the one almofl 

 like garden crefTes, and very fiery; and the other very mild. 

 This laft, though but fmall, is in itfelf a curiofity ; hav- 

 ing not only male and female, but what the botanifts call 

 androgynous plants. 



A coarfe grafs, which we cut down for the cattle, grows 

 pretty plentifully in a few fmall fpots about the fides of the 

 harbour, with a fmaller fort which is rarer ; and, upon 

 the flat ground, a fort of goofe-grafs, and another fmall 

 plant much like it. In fhort, the whole catalogue of plants 

 does not exceed fixteen or eighteen, including fome forts of 

 roofs, and a beautiful fpecies of lichen, which grows upon 

 the rocks, higher up than the reft of the vegetable produc- 

 tions. Nor is there even the leaft appearance of a flirub in 

 the whole country. 



Nature has rather been more bountiful in furn idling it 

 with animals ; though, ftri6lly fpeaking, they are not inha- 

 bitants of the place, being all of the marine kind; and, in 



general, 



