VOYAGE TO THE SOUTH SEAS.
53
I was very much perplexed, to form a ſatisfactory conjecture, how the ſmall birds, which appeared to remain in one ſpot, ſupported themſelves without water; but the party on their return informed me, that, having exhauſted all their water, and repoſing beneath a prickly pear-tree, almoſt choaked with thirſt, they obſerved an old bird in the act of ſupplying three young ones with drink, by ſqueezing the berry of a tree into their mouths. It was about the ſize of a pea, and contained a watery juice, of an acid, but not unpleaſant, taſte. The bark of the tree, produces a conſiderable quantity of moiſture, and, on being eaten, allays the thirſt. In dry ſeaſons, the land tortoiſe is ſeen to gnaw and ſuck it. The leaf of this tree, is like that of the bay tree, the fruit grows like cherries, whilſt the juice of the bark dies the fleſh a deep purple, and emits a grateful odor: a quality in common with the greater part of the trees and plants on this iſland; though it is ſoon loſt, when the branches are ſeparated from the trunks, or ſtems. The leaves of theſe trees alſo abſorb the copious dews, which fall during the night, but in larger quantities at the full and change of the moon; the birds then pierce them with their bills, for the moiſture they retain, and which, I believe, they alſo procure from the various plants and ever-greens. But when the dews fail in the ſummer ſeaſon, thouſands of theſe creatures periſh; for, on our return hither, we found great numbers dead in
