84 .AVOYAGETOTHE 



^ ^Iv"^ ^' cane. A chief, named Abbenooe, whom I knew when 



v.— X— J at this ifland before, alfo paid me a vifit, and recognized 



June'. his old acquaintance the moment he came on board. 



" '^^' Having appointed fix perfons to trade with the natives for 



yams, and given orders to have them dried and flowed 



away, I went on fhore in fearch of the wells mentioned 



by Mr. Bligh, accompanied by Abbenooe as a guide. 



When we landed, a number of the natives who were 

 affembled on the beach retired to a confiderable diftance, 

 and we walked to the wells without the leaft moleftation. 

 I found one of them brackifh and ftinking; the other af-- 

 forded good water, but in no great quantity. The good 

 water was fituated about half a mile to the Eaftward of 

 the beach, and the direct path to it was over a fait marfh: 

 to avoid which a conliderable circuit muft be taken, which, 

 renders the fituation very inconvenient. Indeed, a fhip in» 

 diftrefs for water might procure it here, though much 

 time muft be fpent in doing it. I would recommend it to 

 all fhips watering amongft Indians, to have a fufficient num- 

 ber of cafks hooped with wood inftead of iron, for the 

 purpofe of filling on fiiore. Thefe might afterwards be 

 flarted into other cafks in the boats. By this means much 

 mifchief might be avoided; for the Indians, having no 

 temptation to fteal them, probably would behave in a peace- 

 able manner, and might fafely be trufted to afilft in rolling 

 the cafks. 



After examining thefe wells, I made an excurfion Into 

 the country, accompanied by Abbenooe, and a few of the 

 natives. The ifland appears well cultivated; its principal 

 produce Is yams. There are befides, fweet potatoes, fugar- 

 cane, and the fweet root which is called Ue by the natives. 

 6 A few 



