A VOYAGE TO 
17&0. and I fhould therefore be forry, with fuch imperfect means 
g. " °1 information, to run the rifk of milleading the reader by 
any conjectures of my own, refpedting the object of Luco’s 
vilit to this ifland. I fhall only add, that he told us the 
French fhips might perhaps have put into Tirnon, and from 
thence fail to Cochin China; and, as he had received no 
intelligence of them, he thought this moft likely to have 
been the cale. 
Captain Gore’s inquiries were next dire<ted to find out 
what fupplies could be obtained from the ifland. Luco faid, 
that he had two buffaloes of his own, which were at our 
fervice; and that there were plenty on the ifland, which 
might be purchafed for four or five dollars a head; but 
finding that Captain Gore thought that fum exceedingly 
moderate, and would willingly give for them a much great¬ 
er, the price w T as afterward raifed upon us to feven and eight 
dollars. 
Sunday 23. Early in the morning of the 23d, the launches of both 
fhips were fent to the town, to fetch the buffaloes which we 
had given orders to be purchafed; but they were obliged to 
wait till it was high-water, as they could at no other time 
get through the opening at the head of the harbour. On 
their arrival at the village, they found the furf breaking on 
the beach with fuch force, that it was with the utmoft diffi¬ 
culty each launch brought a buffaloe on board in the even¬ 
ing, and the officers, who were fent on this fervice, gave it 
as their opinion, that between the violence of the furf, and 
the fiercenefs of the buffaloes, it would be extremely im¬ 
prudent to attempt bringing any more off in this way. We 
had purchafed eight, and, were now at a lofs in what man¬ 
ner to proceed to get them on board. We could kill no 
more than was juft neceffary for the confumption of one 
day, 
