220 A V O Y A G E T O 



^777- but they rendered it rather dangerous to walk in the water 

 at that time. 



The party who were left on fliore v/ith Mr. Williamfon, 

 were a good deal peflered (as Mr. Gore's had been) with 

 mufquitoes, in the night. Some of them, in tlieir excur- 

 fions, fhot two curlews, exadlly like thofe of England; and 

 faw fome plovers, or land-pipers, upon the fhore; but, in the 

 wood, no other bird, befides one or two of the cuckoos that 

 were feen at Wenooa-ette. 



Upon the whole, we did not fpend our time unprofitably 

 at this lafl iflot ; for we got there about twelve hundred 

 cocoa-nuts, which were equally divided amonglt the whole 

 crew ; and were,, doubtlefs, of great ufe to them, both on 

 account of the juice and of the kernel. A fliip, therefore, 

 pafling this way, if the weather be moderate, may expeA 

 to fucceed as we did. But there is no water upon either of 

 the illots where we landed. Were that article to be had, and 

 a palTage could be got into the lake, as we may call ir, fur- 

 rounded by the reef, where a fhip could anchor, I fhould 

 prefer this to any of the inhabited iflands, if the only want 

 were refrefhment. For the quantity of fifh that might be 

 procured, would be fufficient; and the people might roam 

 about, unmolelled by the petulance of any inhabitants. 



The nine or ten low iflots, comprehended under the name 

 of Palmerflon's Ifland, may be reckoned the heads or fum* 

 mits of the reef of coral rock, that connec5ls them together, 

 covered only with a thin coat of fand, yet clothed, as air- 

 ready obfeived, with trees and plants, mofl of which are of 

 the fame forts that are found on the low grounds of the high 

 lllands of this ocean. 



There 



