OF LA PF.ROUSE. 313 



trees, blended their Tweet odour with fo many 

 delicious perfumes. 



On returning to the town, one of the minif- 

 ters of the proteflant religion invited us to come 

 into his houfe. He fet before us fcveral forts of 

 fpirituous liquors ; but water perfeclly limpid, 

 and newly brought from his fpring, was the 

 moll agreeable beverage to perfons who for a 

 long time were reduced to brackifh water, and 

 lived only on fait meat. This worthy clergyman 

 appeared greatly aftonifhed at having regaled 

 us at fo cheap a rate. He informed us that 

 earthquakes were frequent at Amboyna, and 

 that within a few years, one, in particular, of 

 unulual violence had been felt : it had been ac- 

 companied by a hurricane, which laded near 

 three days ; and, during all this time, the fea 

 had exceeded its limits, and inundated the 

 country where the town is fituated. 



It is at the change of the monfoons that this 

 fcourge is moft to be dreaded, and particularly 

 at the beginning of the weft monfoon, which 

 takes place in thefe feas in the month of No- 

 vember. 



Gabriel Abalen, one of the boys belonging 

 to our fhip, who was appointed to attend on 

 the warrant officers, difappeared in the evening 

 of the 7th : he had been feen on board the 

 whole day; but, about dark, they called him 



feveral 



