high water, and when they got off, at two o'clock, P. M., it was low water. Neither, of theſe iſles is more, than five or ſix miles in circumference, and they are diſtant from each other four leagues and a half. The Eaſternmoſt iſle, appearing to be inacceſſible, can never be of much uſe, except as a place for catching fiſh or taking ſeals: But the other iſle, might be made to anſwer, as a place of rendezvous in war or peace. It contains a ſpace, where tents might be pitched, and the ſick accommodated, if the want of wood, water, and vegetables, could by any means, be ſurmounted. As to the firſt, a hull or two, of a prize, would afford a ſufficient ſupply; and as for the ſecond, a ſtill, might be provided, to diſtil ſalt water; and a ſmall quantity of ſoil, would be ſufficient, to raiſe ſallad herbs.
A whaler, indeed, never wants wood or water; of the latter, ſhe has always a very large quantity; becauſe all her empty caſks, which ſhe carries out for oil, are filled with water, by way of ballaſt; and as it is to be hoped, that the fiſheries will not be diſcontinued, ſhe might always leave her ſurplus quantity here, by ſtoring it into a tank. A few buts of earth, might alſo be brought, and ſeveral kinds of ſmall herbs, be raiſed. Should this retreat be diſcovered, by the capture of any veſſel, it is ſo ſituated, that a ſmall force would be enabled to defend it againſt a large one. In the winter ſeaſon, however, I cannot ſuppoſe, that any cruizer,