'A voyage from England to India, in the year 1754, and an historical narrative of the operations of the squadron and army in India, under the command of Vice-Admiral Watson and Colonel Clive, in the years 1755, 1756, 1757 ... Also a journey from Persia to England by an unusual route. With an appendix, containing an account of the diseases prevalent in Admiral Watson's squadron, etc.' [‎57] (86/562)

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fie told me it was but lately noticed, and that as yet they knew not the ufe
of it.
Every morning and evening we were gratified with a line odour from the
trees that were in bloom. At firft we took them for the cinnamon, but they
proved to be nothing more than common flowering fhrubs, of which the
whole ifland is full. The foil between the hills, which are very high and
rocky, is a fat red earth-, and the vall'es are extremely pleafant, having a
clear rivulet running almoft through every one of them. Here are alfo
veins of black chryftal, intermixed with fpar, and iron, and fome black
lead, and copper ores. I am almoft perfuaded alfo that this country produces
tin, for Mr. Thomas *, who was a Cornijh gentleman, and particularly
curious in fuch matters, aflfured me, that during his ftay on the ifland, he
picked up as fine a piece of ore of that kind as ever he had feen in
Cornwall and that he intended carrying it home with him in order to
fhew it as a fample. I fhall only add, that if this very valuable com
modity is really to be met with in this country, it is aftonifliing that the
crafty Hollander fhould not as yet have found it out, who was never known
to fpare pains in difcoveries of any kind, as this would manifeftly turn out
to his inexpreflible advantage. The ifland alfo produces topazes, rubies,
garnets, &c. which the inhabitants difcover by wafliing the foil they grow in.
Neither harp-Jhells nor ventel-traps are found here, but numbers of painted
cockles, and others which are commonly called the panama-Jhells.
We found the country to abound alfo with many uncommon curiofities;
particularly the creeping leaf: This is certainly a fpecies of the grafhopper;
it has every member you fee in common infeds, fuch as head, legs, wings,
and body, and of a pale green colour, but yet in fhape and appearance
exadly refembles a leaf.
A great variety both of wild and tame fowl are to be met with here,
and which are fold at a low price. A dozen of fowls, or five ducks, for a
rupee, not quite a half crown of Englijh money. The bay, which has many
coves, abounds in fifh, efpecially the cavally, and JurmuUet •, thefe are to
be had very cheap. The fame may be faid of the fruits of the ifland,
fuch as pine-apples, jacks, bananoes, cocoa-nuts, mangoes^ &c. &c. A pine
apple may be bought for a penny or lefs, and all the other fruits in propor
tion. Money is the fame here as in Holland-, they have only a different
way of reckoning, as 8 doit to a cajb, 12 cajh to a rupee. A rupee goes but
for two fiiillings fterling, or four fchillings Dutch', 96 doit make a rupee.
Common deer they have here, in great abundance, and alfo Guinea deer,
but few other horned cattle, and thefe too very fmall. We killed fix of
* The author is obliged to Mr. Thomas for moft of the obfervatiorvs made on the country
near Cvlumbo.
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