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me to do it for him; which I am very willing to comply with in, as far as I am able, But I shall come short in many things at present; but what is wanting now, may be supply'd hereafter. For, the season of the year will not afford many things, which you desir'd in your Letter*.* The things desired, as to Vegetables, were: 1. To gather the smaller Fruits, and dry them in the Air, and in the Shade, till they are as dry, as Raisins or Figgs are usually made. 2. To open Fruits of a larger kind, and the Stones or Kernels being taken out, to dry them. 3. To send Seeds, or Berryes, when they are ready to drop off, with as much husk or skins upon them, as may be. 4. To wrap up Roots in Mosse or light Earth, and to keep them, as much as is possible, from any dashing of Sea-water in the Voyage. 5. To set Plants or young Trees in halfe Tubs of Earth, arched over with hoops, and cover'd with Matts to preserve them from the dashing of Sea-water; giving them Air by all means every day, the weather being fair, and watering them with fresh water once a day. 6. To send of all the sorts of Potatoes in Earth. 7. To send all sorts of Berries, Grasses, Grains and Herbes, wrapping up the Seeds very dry in paper. By the next opportunity there shall be Roots, Seeds, and Fruits provided for you.
At present I shall informe you, that the Water about our Island does not flow, by any Mans Observation, above five Foot; and that but at one season of the year, between Michaelmas and Christmas; at other times not above three Foot. It is High-water, when the Moon is about an hour high; and the like after her going down. It flowes in from the North-West and runs to the South-East nearest, and in that part of the Land which lies most to the North-West, there it is High-water soonest. But the Tyde does not alwayes ebb and flow directly that course round about our Coast; but, I suppose, the reason is, that some points of Land, or Sholes, may turn its North-West and South-East course.
We have hereabout very many sorts of Fishes. There is amongst them great store of Whales, which in March, April and May use our Coast. I have my self killed many of them. Their Females have abundance of Milk, which their young ones suck out of the Tears, that grow by their Navell. They have no Teeth, but feed on Mosse, growing on the Rocks at the bottom during these three Moneths, and at no other season of the Year, When that is consumed and gone, the Whales go away also. These we kill for their Oyl. Bur here have been Sperma-Ceti-Whales driven upon the shore, which Sperm (as
