in the Pacific Ocean. 



5 



arrival of the Acasta, none had been there. There are no females 

 on the island, and none are permitted to be there, from what mo- 

 tives I cannot perceive, except it be to render the place of exile 

 the more horrible. The watering-place is near the beach, at the 

 foot of the rock on which the citadel is placed, and it is with the 

 utmost difficulty and danger that the casks can be got through 

 the surf to the boat. The island produces wood in abundance ; 

 but the Portuguese do not permit it to be cut for shipping any 

 where, except on a sm.all island to the east of Fernando, called 

 Wooding Island. This island is in tolerably good cultivation, 

 and produces their principal supply of vegetables. There is no 

 boat in the island, and the only means of communication, between 

 Wooding Island and Fernando, is a small raft or catamaran, 

 which is carefully kept in one of the forts, and is capable of 

 bearing only two men. An abundance of fish may be procured, 

 with but little trouble, with the hook and line. 



As clothing is not in use here, as hunger may be gratified 

 without labour, and as there is an appearance of cheerfulness, 

 those that are not in chains may be supposed, in some measure, 

 reconciled to a state as good, perhaps, as any they had formerly 

 been accustomed to. 



The governor caused his catamaran to be launched through a 

 surf, (which twice filled our boat, and was near destroying her,) 

 and despatched it to Wooding Island for fruit for us, but before 

 she returned we made sail. 



A rise of tide was perceptible here of about five feet. The 

 only anchoring place is near the citadel. 



The oppressive heat here is, I presume, occasioned by the 

 coast of Brazils, which runs at right angles with the direction of 

 the trades, and occasions an interruption of their course ; it is 

 well known, that winds never blow home (as seamen term it) on 

 a high coast. Added to this, the land breezes, which blow off 

 at night, break in on the regularity of the current of air, and 

 produce the light and baffling winds and calms that we have ex- 

 perienced in this place. 



When in the latitude of XT'" 35' south, and longitude of 34« 56' 

 west, supposing myself to be on the Abrohlas shoal, sounded 

 with one hundred and twenty fathoms of line, but got no bottom ; 

 we again sounded in the latitude of 19^ 45' south, and longitude 

 of 37^^22'' west, with the same quantity of line, but did not suc- 

 ceed in getting bottom ; and between the soundings we did not 

 perceive that the water was in the smallest degree discoloured 

 ^ibout this place. 



