VALENTIA. 
339 
many of them, in seed. The only trees were of the genus Mimpsa, 
except one which I had never before seen. The southern part of the 
island is a cluster of small hills sprinkled with trees and herbs. We 
were obliged frequently to ascend by narrow winding paths, made 
by the natives. The rock is visible in every part, and is dissimilar 
from that of the other islands near, not having any marine produc- 
tions in its composition. Water seems plentiful, from the verdure of 
the little valleys stretching between the hills to the sea shore, form- 
ing a remarkable contrast to the burnt appearance of the neigh- 
bouring country. In one place the shooters actually found a spring. 
Two years have now passed without a fall of rain, consequently it 
may be safely asserted that water is always to be procured here. The 
goats were numerous on all the hills. The most lofty of these over- 
hangs the village, and its base forms a rocky protuberance within 
high-water mark. We named it Mount Norris, out of respect to my 
father, as being the highest place in the island. It was fortunately 
low water, and we were able to pass round it. The village then 
came in view, consisting of about forty round and square basket- 
work huts. The hills here became less, and the plain much larger, 
being a mile in length, with a grove of Mimosas at the end: beyond 
this, my servant had shot several very fine wild geese. The Dola 
and inhabitants of the village gave us a very civil reception, the 
former appropriating a great part of his house to our use, having 
couches in it covered with mats, as at Dhalac. The day had fortu- 
tunately been overcast, and there was a pleasant breeze; yet a 
walk of four miles, continually ascending and descending, had com- 
pletely fatigued me, and worn out the shoes of the whole partyL 
We had,seen a large heap of the saw-fish's saws in one of the vales ; 
YOU Ih XX 
