534 
A VOYAGE TO 
1778. The current which I have mentioned, as fetting to the 
Uecemben £ a ft warc i 5 had now ceafed; for we gained but little by ply- 
Sunday 6. ing. On the 6th, in the evening, being about five leagues 
farther up the coafi, and near the fhore, we had fome traffic 
with the natives. But, as it had furnifhed only a trifling 
Monday 7. fupply, I flood in again the next morning, when we had a 
coniiderable number of vhiters; and we lay to, trading 
with them till two in the afternoon. By that time, we had 
procured pork, fruit, and roots, fufficient for four or five 
days. We then made fail, and continued to ply to wind¬ 
ward. 
Having procured a quantity of fugar-cane; and having, 
upon a trial, made but a few days before, found that a 
ftrong deco£tion of it produced a very palatable beer, I or¬ 
dered fome more to be brewed, for our general ufe. But 
when the calk w'as now broached, not one of my crew 
would even fo much as tafte it. As I had no motive in 
preparing this beverage, but to fave our fpirit for a colder 
climate, I gave myfelf no trouble, either by exerting autho¬ 
rity, or by having recourfe to perfuafion, to prevail upon 
them to drink it; knowing that there was no danger of the 
fcurvy, fo long as we could get a plentiful fupply of other 
vegetables. But, that I might not be difappointed in my 
views, I gave orders that no grog ffiould be ferved in either 
fhip. I myfelf, and the officers, continued to make ufe of 
this fugar-cane beer, whenever we could get materials for 
brewing it. A few hops, of which we had fome on board, 
improved it much. It has the tafte of new malt beer ; and I 
believe no one will doubt of its being very wholefome. And 
yet my inconfiderate crew alleged that it was injurious to 
their health. 
They had no better reafon to fupport a refolution, which 
they 
