25 
\ 
THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
The road leading from Santa Cruz to Laguna runs up 
a fteep hill, which is very barren; but, lower down, we 
law fome fig-trees, and feveral corn fields. Thefe are but 
fmall, and not thrown into ridges, as is prailifed in Eng¬ 
land. Nor does it appear that they can raife any com here 
without great labour, as the ground is fo encumbered with 
Hones, that they are obliged to collect and lay them in 
broad rows, or walls, at fmall alliances. The large hills 
that run to the South Well, appeared to be pretty well fur- 
nifhed with trees. Nothing elfe worth noticing prefented 
itfelf during this excurfion, except a few aloe plants in 
flower, near the fide of the road ; and the cheerfulnefs of 
our guides, who amufed us with longs by the way. 
Molt of the laborious work in this ifland is performed 
by mules ; horfes being to appearance fcarce, and chiefly 
referved for the ufe of the officers. They are of a fmall 
fize, but well fhaped and fpirited. Oxen are alfo employed 
to drag their calks along upon a large clumfy piece of wood; 
and they are yoked by the head, though it doth not feem 
that this has any peculiar advantage over our method of 
fixing the harnefs on the Ihoulders. In my walks and ex- 
curfions I faw fome hawks, parrots, which are natives of 
the ifland, the fea fwallow or tern, fea gulls, partridges, 
wagtails, fwallows, martins, blackbirds, and Canary-birds 
in large flocks. There are alfo lizards of the common, and 
another fort; fome infedls, as locults; and three or four 
forts of dragon flies. 
I had an opportunity of converting with a fenfible and 
well-informed gentleman refiding here, and whofe veracity 
I have not the leaft reafon to doubt. From him I learnt 
fome particulars, which, during the fhort flay of three 
days, did not fall within my own obfervation. He in- 
Vol. I. E formed 
1776. 
Auguft. 
1 _ y - 1 
