out of the sea water, which would be necessary for curing the provisions.  I also dug shallow pans in the rock, close to the water’s edge, that I might gain as much salt as possible by means of evaporation.  Every thing was prepared in the course of the day, and the major part of my ship’s company were landed, and slept in the tents.  In three days we had salted down several casks of pork, and had collected a large quantity of cocoa-nuts.

On the fourth morning I heard a dispute among the men, some of them swearing that they would not remain, and that the ship ought to go to sea immediately.  Astonished at these remarks, after they had expressed themselves so well pleased, I inquired the reason.  They answered, that there was magic in the island, and on my requiring an explanation, they took me to the salt pans, which, upon our arrival, had been cut in the rocks within a foot of the water’s edge, but had now receded from the shore to a distance of nine or ten feet.  I must own that I was surprised at the circumstance, which was quite unaccountable:  but still did not feel inclined to leave the island, without first obtaining the necessary supply of provisions.  I pointed out to the men, that although I could not explain so strange an incident, yet as we had seen and heard nothing, and should certainly starve if we went to sea without provisions, it would be better to remain until we had procured a supply:  observing that it was not impossible that the water might have receded, instead of the island having advanced.  The latter remark seemed to quiet them, although at the time that I made it, I knew it to be incorrect, as the rocks above water near the beach were not higher out of it than before.  This the seamen did not pay attention to, and I took care not to point it out to them.  They agreed with my supposition, that the water had receded, and said no more about it.

We remained a fortnight longer, during which the same phenomenon continued, each day the salt pans and coppers being further off from the beach.  At last the men perceiving that the rocks did not rise higher from the water again became alarmed, and broke out into open mutiny.  By this time I had cured a sufficiency of provisions, and I made no objection, indeed I must confess that I was by no means easy in my own mind at these supernatural appearances.  We struck our tents, sent every thing on board, rove the rigging, bent the sails, and prepared for our departure.  Soon after we repaired on board, I happened to cast my eyes upon the lead line, which was hanging over from the main chains, and observed that it lay in a bight; hauling up the slack, I found, to my surprise, that instead of five fathoms water in which we had anchored, we were in less than three.