Page:A voyage to New Holland - Dampier.djvu/59

Rh ing, they hale off to Sea, till they come a little without the swell; where they remove the Salt into another Boat that carries it on board the Ship. Without such a Frape-boat here is but bad Landing at any time: for tho' 'tis commonly very smooth in the Road, yet there falls a great Sea on the Shore, so that every Ship that comes here should have such a Boat, and bring, or make, or borrow one of other Ships that happen to be here; for the Inhabitants have none. I have been thus particular in the Description of these Frape-boats, because of the Use they may be of in any Places where a great Sea falls in upon the Shore; as it doth especially in many open Roads in the East and West-Indies; where they might therefore be very serviceable; but I never saw any of them there.

The Island Mayo is generally barren, being dry, as I said; and the best of it is but a very indifferent Soil. The sandy Bank that pens in the Salt-pond hath a sort of Silk Cotton growing upon it, and a Plant that runs along upon the Ground, branching out like a Vine, but with thick broad Leaves. The Silk-Cotton grows on tender Shrubs, 3 or 4 Foot high, in Cods as big as an Apple, but of a long shape; which when ripe open at one end, parting leisurely into 4 quarters; and at the first opening