226 A V O Y A G E T O 
CHAP, on the wing ; it feemecl to be a fpecies of humming 
XX. 
c—v--^ bird : there was alio a black bird, like a fheerwater. 
May, 1788. 
with a hooked bill, which burrows in theground. Num- 
bers of ants were feen, which appeared the only infe6l 
at this place, except the common earth worm. The 
foil is of a fandy nature, and frefli water extremely 
fcarce in thofe places which they had an opportunity of 
examining. 
This ifland is well covered with v/ood, the chief of 
which is the large and dwarf mangrove, the bamboo, 
and the cabbage tree. The different vegetables met 
Vv'ith were fcurvy grafs, wild celery, fpinach, endive, and 
famphire. . 
From the mean of all their obfervations- they found 
this ifland to be fltuated in 31°. 30'. 49''. fouth latitude^ 
and by comparing their lunar obfervations with thofe 
of Lieutenant Ball, they found its longitude to be 
159". 10 . 00". eaft of Greenwich. The mean ll:ate of 
the thermometer, during their fliort ftay, was 66°. and 
the variation of the compafs, by many obfervations, was 
found to be 10°. eaft. hi the afternoon the pinnace was 
hoifted in, and they made fail to the eaftward with a frefli 
breeze at fouth- weft. Nothing material occurred till the 
Saturday 31. 2 1 ft, whcu about three o'clock in the afternoon they 
faw two iflands, one bearing north-eaft, half eaft, feven 
leagueSj^ 
