THE PACIFIC OCEAN. 
in 
fome fmall limpets ; and large quantities of fponge ; one 1777. 
fort of which, that is thrown on fhore by the fea, but not , 
very common, has a mo ft delicate texture; and another, is 
the fpongia dichotoma. 
Many pretty Medufa's heads were found upon the beach; 
and the ftinking laplyjia or fea-hare, which, as mentioned 
by fome authors, has the property of taking off the hair by 
the acrimony of its juice; but this fort was deficient in this 
refpecf. 
Infecfts, though not numerous, are here in confiderable 
variety. Amongft them are grafshoppers, butterflies, and 
feveral forts of fmall moths, finely variegated. There are 
two forts of dragon-flies, gad-flies, camel-flies; feveral forts 
of fpiders ; and fome fcorpions ; but the laft are rather rare. 
The moft troublefome, though not very numerous tribe of 
infedts, are the mufquitoes ; and a large black ant, the 
pain of whofe bite is almoft intolerable, during the fhort 
time it lafts. The mufquitoes, alfo, make up the defici¬ 
ency of their number, by the feverity of their venomous 
probofcis . 
The inhabitants whom we met with here, had little of 
that fierce or wild appearance common to people in their 
iltuation ; but, on the contrary, feemed mild and cheerful, 
without referve or jealoufy of ftrangers. This, however, 
may arife from their having little to lofe or care for. 
With refpedt to perfonal activity or genius, we can fay 
but little of either. They do not l'eern to poffefs the firft in 
any remarkable degree; and as for the laft, they have, to 
appearance, lefs than even the half-animated inhabitants 
of Terra del Fuego, who have not invention fufffcient to 
make clothing for defending themfelves from the rigor of 
their 
