charming trees, mixed its sweet odour with their delightful perfumes.
On our return into the town, one of the protestant ministers conducted us to his house, where he entertained us with several sorts of spirituous liquors. But limpid water, just drawn from the spring, was the most agreeable draught to persons, who had long been confined to brackish water and salted provisions. This excellent minister appeared to be much surprised at our being regaled at so small an expence. He informed us that earthquakes were frequent at Amboyna, and that some years ago one, among others, had been very forcibly felt; that it was accompanied with a hurricane which continued nearly three days, during which time the sea had overflowed, and inundated the ground on which the town is built.
This calamity is the most to be dreaded at the change of the monsoons, and particularly at the commencement of the western monsoon, which takes place, in those latitudes, in the month of November.
7th. One of the cabin-boys, of the name of Gabriel Abalen, who served the table of the marine officers, disappeared on the night of the 7th. He had been observed to be on board all day; but after dark was called several times in vain. He
