olO PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. * [ANNOI698. 



along, after some convenient progress made, to express in as plain language as 

 may be, the import of some of the tables: as for instance, the head is the 

 highest part of the body ; the feet the lowest part ; the forehead is over the 

 eyes, &c. And such plain discourse, put into writing, and particularly ex- 

 plained, will teach him by degrees to understand plain sentences : and such like 

 advantages a sagacious teacher my take, as occasion offers. 



Thus I have given a short account of my methods, used in such cases with 

 good success: particularly in teaching Mr. Alexander Popham, who was born 

 deaf, to speak distinctly, and to understand a language, so as to express his 

 mind tolerably well in writing, and understand what was written to him bv 

 others, as likewise in another instance in the person of Mr. Daniel Whaley. 



Observations in New Holland. By M. ffltsen, F. R. S. N° 243, p. 36l. 



In a voyage to the south-land, called Hollandia Nova, it has been discovered 

 that the soil of this country is very barren, and like a desert ; no fresh-water 

 rivers have been found, but some of salt water ; no quadrupeds, except one as 

 large as a dog, with long ears, that lives in the water as well as on the land. 

 Black swans, parrots, and many sea-cows were found there. Our people had 

 seen but 12 of the natives, all black and naked, but so terrified that it was im- 

 possible to bring them to a conversation, or a meeting : they lodge themselves 

 as the Hottentots do, in pavilions made of small branches of trees. By night 

 our people saw fires all over the country ; but when they drew near, the 

 natives were fled. The coast is very low, but the country far from the sea 

 IS high. 



Upon the islands near the coast have been seen rats* as large as cats, in great 

 numbers ; all which had a kind of a bag or purse hanging from the throat upon 

 the breast downwards. There were found many sweet scented trees, out of 

 the wood of which is to be drawn oil smelling like a rose ; but for the rest 

 they are small mean trees. There were also found some birds-nests of a pro- 

 digious size, so that 6 men could not, by stretching out their arms, encompass 

 one of them ; but the fowls were not to be found. There was great store of 

 oysters, lobsters, and crabs ; as also of strange sorts of fish. There were also 

 millions of flies, vvhicli were very troublesome. They saw a great many foot- 

 steps of men and children, but all of an ordinary size. The coast is very foul 

 and full of rocks. 



* Probably the smaller Kanguroo, or Macropiu minor 



