283 



some judgment of imy future prospects in that part of the world, 

 I promised my parents, that should it please the Almighty to bless 

 me with a moderate competency, no flattering situation of wealth 

 or power should induce me to remain there after I had attained 

 my thirty-fifth year: as a sound constitution, an independent for- 

 tune, and the happiness of their society, were to me of far greater 

 value than all the wealth of India, united to the consequences of a 

 longer residence in the torrid zone. I kept my promise, and spent 

 that anniversary of my birth in the wilds of St. Helena. 



A fair wind wafted us in seven days from St. Helena to Ascen- 

 sion, another island, which like it has been produced by volcanic 

 fire. Ascension is about half the size of St. Helena ; entirely un- 

 inhabited, except by sea-fowl and turtle. 



" No human footstep marks the trackless sand." 



Diospedea, procellaria equinoctialis, and various birds of the 

 ocean, build in the volcanic cliffs of Ascension; while what 

 epicures deem the best kind of turtle nightly frequent the beach, 

 and afford the ships that touch there a large supply of this nutri- 

 tious food ; but the Company's orders being positive against such 

 an indulgence, to prevent a contraband trade between their home- 

 ward-bound shipping and the Americans, we were reluctantly obliged 

 to leave this delicacy to vessels not under such a restriction. 



The trade-wind continued until we crossed the equinoctial line 

 on the third of June, which we lost shortly afterwards in the lati- 

 tude of 5° north, when for a few days light airs and calms retarded 

 our progress until we met the north-east trade; which blew fresh 



