C ^73 ) 
IL Some Ohfewathns fent from the Eall-Indieg; 
being in A^ftver to fame Queries jent thither 
by Richard Waller^ F, K S. 
IT does nor appear that the Maldiva^IJlands were ever 
joyn'd to the main Land, there being no Soundings, 
^ as they call it, between the Ifland and the Mun, and the - 
Earth, Sand and Shells of the one oiirch differing from 
the other : The fmall Shells, called, Cowrks^ which pafs 
for Money in Bengale and oiher places, are chiefly found 
there. 
The North and South Pole are not vifible under the 
Line, for in tlie clearefl Night the Horizon is over-caft 
with a thick mighty Darkneis, that no Star can be feen. 
The Poles are feldom vifible till they have Five or Six 
Degrees Latitude, though the Night be never fo clear. 
Gum Lack is the Houft of a large fort of Ants, which 
they make on the Boughs of Trees, which ferves to 
keep them from the Weather, 
'Tis certain that Cloves will attrafl: Water at fome 
Diftance, which is daily experienced amongft the Dutch 
in this Country, who make a confiderable Advantage 
thereby. I have known a Bag of Cloves laid over Wa« 
• ter One or Two Foot Diftance, w^hich has in a Night's 
time imbib'd a confiderable Quantity of Water, and 
grown fo moift that the Water might be prefs'd from 
them. 
There has been feen an Oyfter-Shell in Bantam that 
has been about Eighteen Inches Diameter, and (everal in 
Maccao that has been Eighteen Inches long, and Five or 
I Six broad, whofe Meat within has been proportionable 
I to the ShelL 
Tt 
I 
