Page:Journal of the Right Hon. Sir Joseph Banks.djvu/476

418 left Batavia, and still imagined that they increased instead of decreasing, although my opinion was universally thought improbable. To-day, however, the mystery was discovered, for on getting up water Dr. Solander, who happened to stand near the scuttle-cask, observed an infinite number of them in their water-state, which, as soon as the sun had a little effect upon the water, began to come out in real effective mosquitos incredibly fast.

2nd. We saw that there were many houses and much cultivation upon Cracatoa, so that probably a ship which chose to touch here in preference to Prince's Island might meet with refreshments.

4th. Soon after dinner-time to-day we anchored under Prince's Island and went ashore. The people who met us carried us immediately to a man who they told us was their king, and with whom, after a few compliments, we proceeded to business. This was to settle the price of turtle, in which we did not well agree. This, however, did not at all discourage us, as we doubted not but that in the morning we should have them at our own price. So we walked a little way along shore and the Indians dispersed. One canoe, however, remained, and, just as we went off, sold us three turtle on a promise that we should not tell the king.

5th. Ashore to-day trading: the Indians dropped their demands very slowly, but were very civil. Towards noon, however, they came down to the offered price, so that before night we had bought up a large supply of turtle. In the evening I went to pay my respects to his Majesty the king, whom I found in his house in the middle of a rice-field, cooking his own supper; he received me, however, very politely.

11th. My servant, Sander, whom I had hired at Batavia, having found out that these people had a town somewhere along shore to the westward, and not very far off, I resolved to visit it; but knowing that the inhabitants were not at all desirous of our company, kept my intentions secret from them. In the morning I set out, accompanied by our second lieutenant, and went along shore, telling all whom I met that I was in search of plants, which indeed was also the