352 FROM CALIFORNIA TO 



fruit, yams, potatoes, cocoa-nuts, sugar-cane, and 

 water-melons, besides seventeen swine, some goats, 

 fowls, and ducks. The pork is much better fla- 

 voured than the European, which is probably 

 owing to their food, which consists of sugar-cane. 



Captain Alexander Adams dined w4th us to-day, 

 whose conversation, as he was very sensible, and 

 had travelled a great deal, delighted us very much. 

 He told me, among other things, that some years 

 ago an island had been discovered by Americans 

 from the United States, on the coast of California ; 

 which, on account of the great number of sea-otters 

 found there, has been named Sea-Otter Island. 

 Its southern point lies in 33° I7' nortli latitude ; 

 longitude, by lunar distances, 240° 50' east of Green- 

 wich. Its circumference is between fifty and sixty 

 miles, and there is a very dangerous reef N.N.W. 

 of this island. He farther observed, that while 

 Europe v/as taking pains to abolish the slave- 

 trade, the Americans are endeavouring to extend 

 it. To purchase slaves they go in American ships 

 to the N.W. coast of America, in latitude 45°, 

 where there is a very numerous population. The 

 savages in those parts, who perceive that they 

 are better paid for men than for skins, pursue 

 this terrible chase, and as they are all provided 

 with fire-arms by the American merchants, it is 

 easy for them to overpower the unhappy races in 

 the interior of the country, and then exchange 

 them on board the ships for clothing. Affecting 



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