1780. THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 419 



and plantains, various kinds of pompions, cocoa-nuts, 

 oranges, shaddocks, and pomegranates, were also met 

 with ; though, except the plantains and shaddocks, 

 in no great abundance. 



It is probable, from what has been already said 

 relative to the bishop of Adran, that the French have 

 introduced these improvements into the island, for 

 the purpose of making it a more convenient refresh- 

 ing station for any of their ships that may be bound 

 for Cambodia, or Cochin China. Should they have 

 made, or intend to make, any settlement in those 

 countries, it is certainly well situated for that pur- 

 pose, or' for annoying the trade of their enemies, 

 in case of war. 



Our sportsmen were very unsuccessful in their 

 pursuit of the feathered game, with which the woods 

 are well stocked. One of our gentlemen had the 

 good fortune to shoot a wild hen; and all the shoot- 

 ing parties agreed that they heard the crowing of the 

 cocks on every side, which they described to be like 

 that of our common cock, but shriller; that they 

 saw several of them on the wing, but that they were 

 exceedingly shy. The hen that was shot was of a 

 speckled colour, and of the same shape, though not 

 quite so large, as a full grown pullet of this country. 

 Monsieur Sonnerat has entered into a long disserta- 

 tion, to prove that he was the first person who de- 

 termined the country to which this most beautiful 

 and useful bird belongs, and denies that Dampier met 

 with it here. 



The land in the neighbourhood of the harbour is a 

 continued high hill, richly adorned with a variety of 

 fine tall trees, from the summit to the water's edge. 

 Among others, we observed what Dampier calls the 

 tar-tree * ; but observed none that were tapped in 

 the manner he describes. 



The inhabitants, who are fugitives from Cambodia 



* Dampier, vol. i. p. 390. 

 E E 2 



