NARRATIVE. 189 



in all directions, which might easily be done in a fortnight, pro- 

 vided those obstacles were not opposed, which frustrated the 

 greater part of our endeavours. 



The geology, botany, and conchology of a place, may always be 

 ascertained by the morning walks of an individual ; but to catch 

 fish, shoot birds, ^-c, it is frequently necessary to have recourse to 

 others. This was our case, and we were obhged to leave the 

 island without satisfying ourselves respecting its ornithology or 

 ichthyology. We saw some large eagles, falcons, and boobies, and 

 a few birds of a smaller kind flying about, but could only procure 

 one or two of the latter. The Governor made us repeated pro- 

 mises, but though we heard his nephew fire for hours, we were 

 invariably informed of his want of success. Mr. Bowdich tried 

 the effect of a few dollars, which prevailed in one or two instances, 

 but to no extent. The fishes seemed to be rare and beautiful, 

 but neither money nor entreaty could prevail on any one to catch 

 them. One day we were told, that the weather was too rough ; on 

 another, that our friends the school boys had taken the single 

 fishing boat in the place, on an excursion of pleasure, and it was 

 only by bribing one of Senhor Manoel's cooks, that we were able to 

 examine the two or three mentioned in the appendix to this 

 narrative. All the inhabitants belong to, or are dependant on, 

 Senhor Martins, and it seemed impossible to rouse them from 

 their indifference, or to stimulate them to more exertion than that 

 of their appointed labours. I kept a troop of Httle ragged boys 

 and girls in pay, to bring me shells, but they would go no further 

 than the immediate precincts of the town, and they all deserted 

 me when I refused to purchase the same shells four or five times 

 over. 



The eastern environs of the town appeared to be formed of a 

 conglomerate rock, mingled with basaltic pieces, resting on layers 

 of yeUow tufa, couhes running east and west. On the western 



