THE ANTARCTIC SEAL FISHERIES. 465 



took his keg of rum on shore and buried it iu the ground and two or three weeks afterward he invited those of our 

 orcw who wore loll there to come and see him at his cave, as it was his liirtlnla.v and ho wished to treat them. They 

 accepted his invitation and went, when he dug up his keg which they were surprised to find unbroached and entirely 

 full. The party was a merry one and helped him drink it up, which made I hem all " rich," and after the entertain- 

 ment stowed ,-iway his empty Ken and declared that no ship should pass the island without tilling it again. 



The island of Mas-a-Fuera is in latitude lili 41' south, longitude 5(/ west from Greenwich, and about 90 miles 

 east by north from Juan Fernandez, which can be seen on a very clear day. The shore is a rugged one all round the 

 island, the mountains very erect, no low land, but here and then 1 a spot that has been made by the stone and earth 

 vhieh has been forced from the mountains by the rains. The high ground is pretty much covered with trees inter- 

 spersed here and there with a pleasant lawn, the verdure of which appeared beautiful from our boat and from the 

 ship when we stood near on with the land. We frequently saw goats feeding en them in herds of twenty or thirty. 

 The tops of the mountains are frequently whitened with snow, which would cover I lioni in squalls when we have pleas- 

 ant summer weather below. 



Along the shores of the island there are a number of very romantic gulfs, one of which the sailors called the 

 "Pound," because they frequently drove goats in they could get no farther and caught them there. In the center 

 of the gulf is a pyramidal rock, about 500 feet high, with a cluster of trees on tin- top, and apparently cut down on 

 each side by tbe water which is continually streaming down. After dashing down among the rocks for a considerable 

 distance, the water has a perpendicular fall of about so feet, iu two columns of about a rod in width, one on each side. 

 The only view of these, however, is near the falls themselves, as they have worn away the rocks until they are left 

 several rods iu advance. The main island out of which the gulf was formed maintains a, great height to the shore 

 surrounding it, with tall and abrupt mountains, and nearly meeting, so as to form a narrow entrance. The goats go 

 there frequently for the fresh water at the cascade, and half a dozen men could easily prevent their escape. The 

 water running so quick from the region of snow just above was not only clear and pure, but so extremely cold that 

 we could hardly drink it. Hunting goats s generally hazardous, their paths winding along the cliffs where the stones 

 often appear firm, but give way immediately under the weight of a man. One of our men fell, with the stone on 

 which he slipped, about i!0 feet, into some bushes, which he held to for his life, and from which he was relieved with 

 much difficulty. I have frequently been at a stand several minutes, uncertain whether to advance or retreat in my 

 pursuit after these nimble creatures. In climbing cliffs it is generally safest to advance, as you can with more secu- 

 rity test the ground with your bauds than with your feet. The tish are abundant and very fine at this island. Our 

 men caught them iu plenty close to the shore by taking a seal skin with the fat on it and holding it in one hand, 

 floating, and spread out upon the water. The fish would come into it so carelessly that with the other hand under 

 i be skin they could catch what they wanted. These were small, but as we went farther from the shore we got larger 

 ones. We used to get the best fish in 15 fathoms, at which depth we caught them weighing 30 and 40 pounds. We 

 could hook them about as fast as we could pull them in. They are the only food of the seals. Torpedo fish are said 

 to be found here, but we caught none. 



We remained here eight weeks, and secured about 15,000 skins. During the latter part of the time, it being 

 the winter season, the weather was very bad, and we frequently stove our boats in the surf. In good weather we 

 took about 500 skins a day, finding them much better in quality than we had expected from the latitude. On leaving 

 we landed a couple of hogs, calculated to increase, for the benefit of those who might come after us. Some one 

 had done the same iu landing nine sheep, which we frequently saw together without molesting them. The sailor 

 lad "Bill" we left there still contented, without any apparent wish to leave the place or to accumulate property for 

 'hat purpose, although he continued to get seal skins. 



The crew left here by {.'aptain Fanning we have agreed to take on board, and have purchased their skins. We 

 leave twelve of our crew here on account of myself and Captain Greene, and I have agreed to come out for them ; 

 therefore upon my return home I shall make but a very short stay with you. The men we leave are Doctor David 

 "Forbes, who is captain of the gang; J. F. Greene, who is second; Oliver Brad'ey, William Gorham, David Bogie, 

 Benjamin Thompson, John Howard, Elijah Davis, and my negro boy Aaron, and C. W. Jacobs. They are to allow 

 us twenty-two months to get back and take them oft'. If we are not then here they are at liberty to make the best 

 of their way oil'. They are on shares. Wo think they will get a good cargo of skins. The pups are just getting of 

 proper age to take. They have as yet been too black, and we have not taken any but yearlings and old ones. This 

 crew have now chosen a comfortable spot and are building themselves comfortable log-houses, and now, calculating for 

 a lengthy residence, will live more pleasantly than since we have been here. We have on board of Captain Tanning's 

 cicw. Josiah Townsend, Gilbert Tomlinsou, Lemuel Scot, Jonathan Dnrgiu, Joseph Holley, Joseph Smith, Thomas 

 Carpenter, and Abraham Dickerman. 



BOUND FOR CHINA AND HOME. 



We let i the U la i id of Mas-a-Fuci a on the l>th of June, and on the20fh we made the island of St. Felix > one of the St. 

 Ambrose Islands, which form a small and barren cluster in about the latitude of 26 degrees south, and longitude about 

 -1 degrees west. We landed, but found nothing worth our attention except the head of a barrel marked "I. Winship, 

 1'ioMou.' 1 These islands bear evident marks of having been volcanic, and are abont GO feet above the level of the sea. 

 The sides are so steep that it was difficult getting on the high ground, which was entirely barren, excepting a few 

 dusters of samphire. The birds were very plenty, and no doubt lay plenty of eggs in the season. There were many 

 just hatched. They lay on the earth, without nests, and we got a few eggs. Fish were as plenty as at Mas-a'-Fuera. 

 On Saturday night, June 1:1, c left these islands with a determination to proceed for Canton, and having now closed 



SEC. v, VOL. ii 30 



