VOYAGE TO THE SOUTH SEAS.
73
I was much diſappointed, at not being able to procure turtles; for we ſaw but two, and they eſcaped us. That there ſhould be ſo few turtles here, muſt be owing to the great number of ſharks that infeſt the coaſt, or the chilling rains, which deſtroy the eggs, when laid on the ſhore, which, in itſelf, is very favourable to their becoming productive. There is as fine and ſoft a beach, as I ever ſaw, and there are few veſſels, but might lay a-ground on it, and repair and clean their bottoms. Whoever may. hereafter, wiſh to anchor in this bay, will do well, to come round the South and Weſt points of the iſle, and hug the South point of the bay, cloſe on board, and when in the bay, to moor head and ſtern.
We were much wearied, during the four days, we paſſed off this iſland, and prepared to quit it. We therefore took on board, two thouſand cocoa nuts; and, in return, left on ſhore, in the North bay, a boar, and ſow, with a male and female goat. In the other bay, we ſowed garden ſeeds, of every kind, for the benefit and comfort of thoſe who might come after us. I alſo left a bottle tied to a tree, containing a letter. Over it, I ordered a board, with a ſuitable inſcription, which Captain Vancouver thought proper to remove, when he anchored at this iſle, ſome time after me. The letter gave only an
