Agricultural Experience

           Ihadbeennowonthisunhappyislandabovetenmonths; allpossibilityofdeliverancefromthisconditionseemedtobeentirelytakenfromme;andIfirmlybelievedthatnohumanshapehadeversetfootuponthatplace. Havingnowsecuredmyhabitation,asIthought,fullytomymind,Ihadagreatdesiretomakeamoreperfectdiscoveryoftheisland,andtoseewhatotherproductionsImightfind,whichIyetknewnothingof. 

           Itwasthe15thofJulythatIbegantotakeamoreparticularsurveyoftheislanditself. Iwentupthecreekfirst,where,asIhinted,Ibroughtmyraftsonshore. Ifound,afterIcameabouttwomilesup,thatthetidedidnotflowanyhigher,andthatitwasnomorethanalittlebrookofrunningwater,andveryfreshandgood; butthisbeingthedryseason,therewashardlyanywaterinsomepartsofit,atleast,notenoughtoruninanystream,soasitcouldbeperceived. 

           OnthebankofthisbrookIfoundmanypleasantsavannasormeadows,plain,smooth,andcoveredwithgrass; andonthewater,asmightbesupposed,neveroverflowed,Ifoundagreatdealoftobacco,green,andgrowingtoagreatandverystrongstalk. Therewerediverseotherplants,whichIhadnonotionof,orunderstandingabout,andmight,perhaps,havevirtuesoftheirownwhichIcouldnotfindout. 

           Isearchedforthecassavaroot,whichtheIndians,inallthatclimate,maketheirbreadof,butIcouldfindnone. Isawlargeplantsofaloes,butdidnotthenunderstandthem. Isawseveralsugar-canes,butwild,and,forwantofcultivation,imperfect.