Page:A voyage to New Holland - Dampier.djvu/55

Rh part of the Pond; where also it is deepest. It was at a Spring of the New Moon when I was there; and I was told that it comes in at no other time but at the New Moon Spring-tides: but why that should be I can't guess. They who come hither to lade Salt rake it up as it Kerns, and lay it in heaps on the dry Land, before the Water breaks in anew: And this is observable of this Salt-Pond, that the Salt kerns only in the Dry Season, contrary to the Salt-Ponds in the West-Indies, particularly those of the Island Salt-Tortuga, which I have formerly mentioned [Vol. I. p. 56.] for they never Kern there till the Rains come in about April; and continue to do so in May, June, July, &c. while the Wet Season lasts; and not without some good Shower of Rain first: But the Reason also of this Difference between the Salt-Ponds of Mayo, and those of the West-Indies, why these should Kern in the Wet Season, and the former in the Dry Season, I shall leave to Philosophers.

Our Nation drive here a great Trade for Salt, and have commonly a Man of War here for the Guard of our Ships and Barks that come to take it in; of which I have been inform'd that in some Years there have not been less than 100 in a Year. It costs nothing but Men's Labour to rake it together, and wheel it out of the Pond,