Page:A voyage to New Holland - Dampier.djvu/61

Rh the Sea. The Soil is for the most part either a sort of Sand, or loose crumbling Stone, without any fresh Water Ponds or Streams, to moisten it; but only Showers in the Wet-season, which run off as fast as they fall: except a small Spring in the middle of the Isle, from which proceeds a little Stream of Water that runs through a Valley between the Hills. There the Inhabitants live in three small Towns, having a Church and Padre in each Town: And these Towns, as I was inform'd, are 6 or 7 miles from the Road. Pinose is said to be the chief Town, and to have two Churches: St. Johns the next; and the third Lagoa. The Houses are very mean; small, low Things. They build with Fig-tree; here being, as I was told, no other Trees fit to build with. The Rafters are a sort of wild Cane. The Fruits of this Isle are chiefly Figs, and Water-Melons. They have also Callavances (a sort of Pulse like French Beans) and Pumpkins, for ordinary Food. The Fowls are Flamingo's, Great Curlews, and Guinea-Hens; which the Natives of those Islands call Gallena Pintada, or the Painted Hen; but in Jamaica, where I have seen also those Birds in the dry Savannah's and Woods, (for they love to run about in such Places) they are call'd Guinea-Hens. They seem to be much of the Nature of Partridges.