in the Pacific Ocean, 



9n 



driven on shore by them, and all hands perishing. On the 

 eastern hmits of the town, towards the village of Almandral, and 

 near some rocks, is erected a cross, as a monument of the loss 

 of a Spanish ship that was driven on shore here, and all her 

 crew lost. 



The bay is entirely free from danger, and the only advice 

 necessary for running into the harbour, is to stand in for the 

 middle of the town, choosing your anchorage in from twenty-five 

 to seven fathoms water. The bottom is every where clean, and 

 the holding ground good. As the port has been so accurately 

 and minutely described by Vancouver and others, any further 

 directions would be superfluous. 



The customs of the mhabitants of this place differ so materially 

 from our own, (and perhaps from those of every other people,) 

 that I cannot help noticing a few particulars that struck me as 

 the most singular. 



At all their dinner entertainments, the principal guest is placed 

 at the head of the table, the host on one side of him, and the 

 hostess on the other; and their principal business appears to 

 be to make him eat as much as possible. This duty they are 

 apt to perform most effectually, if he happens like me to be a 

 stranger, and not aware of the variety of changes that is to be 

 brought on, each one more and more inviting in its appearance 

 and taste. 



There is another practice at their balls, or evening parties, 

 which at first gave me some embarrassment. A very large silver 

 dish, filled with sweet jelly, was presented to me by a servant, as 

 well as a silver plate and fork. Believing that the whole dish 

 could not be intended for me, I attempted to take the plate ; this 

 the servant objected to. I then attempted to take the dish ; but 

 to this she also objected. I felt certain, however, that it was in- 

 tended for me to eat in some way or other, and was determined 

 to do it in that way which appeared the most natural and con- 

 venient; I therefore took from her the plate and fork, and 

 helped myself to as much as I thought I should want. The 

 eyes of all the company, however, were on me, and I perceived 

 that I had made some mistake, which I was soon convinced of ; 

 for the servant brought another plate with a fork, which was 

 handed with the sweetmeats around to the company, and each 

 made use of the same fork to take a mouthful, holding his head 

 carefully over the dish in order that nothing might fall from his 

 mouth to the floor ; the fork was then laid on the plate, and 

 passed to the next. The matti is taken with as little regard to 

 delicacy as cleanliness. When the cup containing it is brought 

 in, one of the company blows into it, through the silver tube, 

 imtil a high froth is produced; it is then considered properly 



