PAPUANISLANDS. 20 



fays that fometimes a pair of fliells weigh fix and even feven hun- 

 dred pounds. Mr. Gmelin * relates that the fifii is large enough to 

 feed a hundred and twenty men, and that the fliells are able 

 to fnap a cable in two, or to cut off a man's han<l ! the laft 

 I can credit, poffibly the firft is an exaggerated proof of their 

 Itrength, 



Mr. Born, p. 81. (from DavilaJ informs us, that from the li- 

 gament of the hinge is made a gem called Pavonium by litho- 

 logifls. 



North of Patanta is a narrow anonymous ifle, lying midway,-: 

 and at but a fmall diftance from it, that of Gammon, fitaated near 

 to Waygioii, one of the greateft of the Papuan ifles. On the WAVGioy. 

 fouth this is divided by two great bays, which penetrate deeply 

 into the country ; the northern fide is gently incurvated, and 

 bends at each end towards the fouth ; the equator pafTcs over 

 the middle of the ifland. The land is very lofty, and the moun- 

 tains divide frequently into peaks, the loftieft of which is dif- 

 tinguifhed by the name of the Buffalo's Horn. The ifland is 

 faid to be forty leagues in circumference, to be governed by 

 chieftains, and to contain a hvindred thoufand inhabitants, who 

 are perpetually at war with each other. On the fouth fide are 

 two very good harbors, Piapis and Offak. Mr. PorreJI gives 

 plans of them in his ninth plate, and of the picflurefque harbor of 

 Rawak, in plate 10. In the fame, and alfo in tab. 9, are views of 

 the ifland itfelf. 



Besides the little ifles, fuch as Ruib, Een, and others, to the 

 north and north-weft of the harbor of Piapis, are feveral which 



* Lin, Syfl-. 3300, 



are 



i 



