e climate is
more variable, than in countries farther within that line, though,
perhaps, that might be owing to the season of the year, which was now
the winter solstice. The winds are, for the most part, from some point
between south and east; and, when moderate, are commonly attended with
fine weather. When they blow fresher, the weather is often cloudy,
though open; and, in such cases, there is frequently rain. The wind
sometimes veers to the N.E., N.N.E, or even N.N.W., but never lasts
long, nor blows strong from thence, though it is commonly accompanied by
heavy rain, and close sultry weather. The quick succession, of
vegetables has been already mentioned; but I am not certain that the
changes of weather, by which it is brought about, are considerable
enough to make them perceptible to the natives as to their method of
life, or rather that they should be very sensible of the different
seasons. This, perhaps, may be inferred from the state of their
vegetable productions, which are never so much affected, with respect to
the foliage, as to shed that all at once; for every leaf is succeeded by
another as fast as it falls, which causes that appearance of universal
and continual spring found here.

"The basis of the island, as far as we know, is entirely a coral rock,
which is the only sort that presents itself on the shore. Nor did we see
the least appearance of any other stone, except a few small blue pebbles
strewed about the _fiatookas_; and the smooth, solid black stone,
something like the _lapis lydius_, of which the natives make their
hatchets. But these may, probably, have been brought from other islands
in the neighbourhood; for a piece of slaty, iron-coloured stone was
bought at one of them, which was never seen here. Though the coral
projects in many places above the surface, the soil is, in general, of a
considerable depth. In all cultivated places, it is commonly of a loose,
black colour, produced seemingly, in a great measure, from the rotten
vegetables that are planted there. Underneath which is, very probably, a
clayey _stratum_; for a soil of that kind is often seen, both in the low
and in the rising grounds, but especially in several places toward the
shore, where it is of any height, and, when broken off, appears
sometimes of a reddish, though oftener of a brownish yellow colour, and
of a pretty stiff consistence. Where the shore is low, the soil is
commonly sandy, or rather composed of triturated cor