Nor do I think he is battled for Prey, but to remove him from what is perhaps the Food of both. The Number of Whales here has put me ſometimes on thinking an advantageous Fiſhery might be made of it, but I preſume they (no more than thoſe of Braſil) are the Sort which yield the profitable Part, called Whale-Bone: All therefore that the Iſlanders do, is now and then to go out with two or three Canoes, and ſet on one for Diverſion.
The Rocks and outer Lines of the Iſland, are the Haunts of variety of Sea-Birds, eſpecially Boobies and Noddies; the former are of the Big- of a Gull, and a dark Colour, named ſo from their Simplicity, becauſe they often ſit ſtill and let the Sailors take them up in their Hands; but I fancy this ſucceeds more frequently from their Wearineſs, and the Largeneſs of their Wings, which, when they once have reſted, cannot have the Scope neceſſary to raiſe and float them on the Air again. The Noddies are ſmaller and flat footed alſo.
What I would remark more of them, is, the admirable Inſtinct in theſe Birds, for the proper Seaſons, and the proper Places for Support. In the aforemention’d Months, when the large Fiſh were here, numerous Flocks of Fowl attend for the Spawn and Superfluity of their Nouriſhment; and in January few of either; for the ſame Reaſon, there are ſcarce any Sea Fowl ſeen on the African Coaſt; Rocks and Iſlands being generally their beſt Security and Subſiſtance.
The Harbour of Princes is at the E. S. E. Point of the Iſland; the North-Side has gradual Soundings, but here deep Water, having no Ground at a Mile off with 140 Fathom of Line. The Port (when in) is a ſmooth narrow Bay, ſafe from Winds, (unleſs a little Swell when Southerly) and draughted into other ſmaller and ſandy Ones, convenient
