the inside they are divided into partitions, like oranges, each cell containing a yellow substance, which is eaten raw, and exceeds, in my opinion, all the shell-fish I ever tasted.  They have prawns of extraordinary size, and we sometimes caught the sea-horse in our nets.  On the savannahs of Areziliba, on the continent opposite the southern end of St Catharine, they have great numbers of black cattle, some of which we had from thence at a very reasonable price.

The Portuguese on this island are a parcel of banditti, who have taken refuge here from the more strictly governed parts of Brazil.  Emanuel Mansa, who was captain of the island in the time of Frezier, was still their chief.  They enjoy the blessings of a fertile country and wholesome air, and stand in need of nothing from other countries except clothing.  They have fire-arms sufficient for their use, and have often need of them, being greatly infected with tigers; for which reason every house has many dogs to destroy these ravenous animals, which yet often make great havock.  I have been told that a tiger has killed eight or ten dogs in a night:  But when any make their appearance in the day, they seldom escape, as the inhabitants are fond of the diversion of hunting them.  These animals are so numerous, that it is quite common to see the prints of their paws on the sandy beach.  We could not see any of the fine dwelling-houses mentioned by Frezier; neither have they any place that can be called a town, nor any kind of fortification, except the woods, which are a secure retreat from any enemy that may attack them.  I cannot say much about the Indians of those parts, as I never saw above two or three of them.

On the 2d July we saw a large ship at anchor, under Parrots Island, about five miles from where we lay.  After securing the watering-place, and what we had there ashore, I sent the launch, well manned and armed, under a lieutenant, to see what she was.  The launch returned about noon, reporting that she was the Ruby, formerly an English man-of-war, but now one of the squadron under Martinet, and commanded by Mons. La Jonqniere.  She was in, the Spanish service, but most of her officers and crew were French, to the number of about 420.  Yet they had no intention to molest us, having quitted the South Sea on report of a rupture between France and Spain.  M. La Jonquiere was a man of strict honour, and sent me intimation of his good intentions, with an invitation to dinner, which I accepted, and was well entertained.  About this time I heard that Hately had plundered the Portuguese ship, formerly mentioned, of 100 moidores, and had distributed part of the money among the boat’s crew, to engage them to secrecy.  I examined into this as strictly as possible, intending, if found guilty, to have delivered him up to the captain of St Catharine’s, but I could not get sufficient proof.  This man also committed so many vile actions in the island of St Catharine, that oar people were often in the utmost danger, from the resentment of the Portuguese; which bad conduct I could neither prevent nor punish, as he had become a great favourite with my mutinous crew.