ALL.

Whilst they were at Funchal, Banks spent five days with the English
Consul, and he describes the place as very pretty, but the people as
primitive, idle, and uninformed; all their instruments of the rudest
make; and he thought that the appliances used in the manufacture of wine
must have been similar to those used by Noah, "although it is not
impossible that he might have used better if he remembered the methods he
had seen before the flood." One of the Governors left it on record that,
so averse from change were the people, he thought it most fortunate the
island was not Eden before the fall, as in that case the inhabitants
could never have been induced to wear clothes. He explored as much of the
island as he could, but says he could never get more than three miles
away from the town as his time was so much broken up. The Governor
visited them on one of the days he says was so wasted, but relates, with
evident glee, how he took his revenge. There was an electrical machine on
board, and His Excellency was most curious on the subject; it was sent
for and explained to him, and Banks goes on, "they gave him as many
shocks as he cared for; perhaps more." A visit was paid to a convent,
where the nuns, hearing they were distinguished scientists, plied them
with all sorts of questions, and for the half-hour the visit lasted their
tongues were going "all the time at an uncommonly nimble rate." At a
monastery they visited they were well received, and the monks, regretting
they were then unprepared, invited them to come the next day and, though
it would be Friday, they would have roast turkey for dinner.

On 19th September, at midnight, they weighed, sighted Teneriffe on the
23rd, and the day following their first flying fish found its way into
Mr. Green's cabin. On the 28th they tried steaks for dinner cut from a
young shark, which Banks and Solander reported as very good, but the crew
refused to taste them. Cape de Verde was seen on the 30th, and about a
fortnight afterwards the line was crossed in 29 degrees 24 minutes West
longitude, and the following day the event was celebrated. Lieutenant
Hicks had crossed before, so a list was given to him of all on board,
including the dogs and cats, and all were mustered on deck, those who had
already crossed being separated from the others. Any one who wished could
purchase immunity for four days' allowance of wine, but the others had to
pay the penalty of ducking. Banks compound