THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
109 
Early on the 27th, they fet out again, and filled their 1779. 
calibafhes at an excellent well about half a mile from their t Ma ^ h ' 
hut. Having pafted the plantations, they came to a thick 
wood, which they entered by a path made for the con¬ 
venience of the natives, who go thither to fetch the wild 
or horfe-plantain, and to catch birds. Their progrefs now 
became very flow, and attended with much labour; the 
ground being either fwampy, or covered with large ft ones ; 
the path narrow, and frequently interrupted by trees lying 
acrofs it, which it was neceftary to climb over, the thick- 
nefs of the underwood, on both fides, making it impof- 
fible to pafs round them. In thefe woods they obferved, 
at fmall diftances, pieces of white cloth fixed on poles, 
which they fuppofed to be land-marks for the divifion 
of property, as they only met with them where the 
wild plantains grew. The trees, which are of the fame 
kind with thofe we called the fpice-tree at New Holland, 
were lofty and ftraight, and from two to four feet in cir¬ 
cumference. 
After they had advanced about ten miles in the wood, 
they had the mortification to find themfelves, on a fudden, 
within fight of the fea, and at no great diftance from it; the 
path having turned imperceptibly to the Southward, and 
carried them to the right of the mountain, which it was 
their object to reach. Their difappointment was greatly in- 
creafed by the uncertainty they were now under of its true 
bearings, fince they could not, at this time, get a view of 
it from the top of the higheft trees. They, therefore, found 
themfelves obliged to walk back fix or feven miles to an 
unoccupied hut, where they had left three of the natives, 
and two of their own people, with the fmall flock that re¬ 
mained of their proviftons. Here they fpent the fecond 
night; 
