opened a discovery which removed all my doubts and difficulties. It was
now evident that I had passed from Mount Etna through the centre of the
earth to the South Seas: this, gentlemen, was a much shorter cut than
going round the world, and which no man has accomplished, or ever
attempted, but myself; however, the next time I perform it I will be
much more particular in my observations.

I took some refreshment, and went to rest. The Dutch are a very rude
sort of people; I related the Etna passage to the officers, exactly as I
have done to you, and some of them, particularly the Captain, seemed by
his grimace and half-sentence to doubt my veracity; however, as he had
kindly taken me on board his vessel, and was then in the very act of
administering to my necessities, I pocketed the affront.

I now in my turn began to inquire where they were bound? To which they
answered, they were in search of new discoveries; "_and if_," said they,
"_your story is true, a new passage is really discovered, and we shall
not return disappointed_." We were now exactly in Captain Cook's first
track, and arrived the next morning in Botany Bay. This place I would by
no means recommend to the English government as a receptacle for felons,
or place of punishment; it should rather be the reward of merit, nature
having most bountifully bestowed her best gifts upon it.

We stayed here but three days; the fourth after our departure a most
dreadful storm arose, which in a few hours destroyed all our sails,
splintered our bowsprit, and brought down our topmast; it fell directly
upon the box that enclosed our compass, which, with the compass, was
broken to pieces. Every one who has been at sea knows the consequences
of such a misfortune: we now were at a loss where to steer. At length
the storm abated, which was followed by a steady, brisk gale, that