96 cook's SECOND VOYAGE APRIL, 



isles which lay in my way. In the doing of this, I 

 picked up about a score of wild fowl, and caught fish 

 sufficient to serve the whole party ; and, reaching the 

 place of rendezvous a little before dark, I found all 

 the gentlemen out duck-shooting. They, however, 

 soon returned, not overloaded with game. By this time, 

 the cooks had done their parts, in which little art was 

 required ; and after a hearty repast on what the day 

 had produced, we lay down to rest ; but took care to 

 rise early the next morning, in order to have the other 

 bout among the ducks, before we left the cove. 



Accordingly, at day-light, we prepared for the 

 attack. Those who had reconnoitered the place be- 

 fore, chose their stations accordingly ; whilst myself 

 and another remained in the boat, and rowed to the 

 head of the cove to start the game ; which we did so 

 effectually, that, out of some scores of ducks, we 

 only detained one to ourselves, sending all the rest 

 down to those stationed below. After this, I landed 

 at the head of the cove and walked cross the narrow 

 isthmus that disjoins it from the sea, or rather from 

 another cove which runs in from the sea about one 

 mile, and lies open to the north winds. It, however, 

 had all the appearance of a good harbour and safe 

 anchorage. At the head is a fine sandy beach, where 

 I found an immense number of wood-hens, and 

 brought away ten couple of them, which recompensed 

 me for the trouble of crossing the isthmus, through 

 the wet woods, up to the middle in water. About 

 nine o'clock, we all got collected together, when 

 the success of every one was known ; which was by 

 no means answerable to our expectations. The morn- 

 ing, indeed, was very unfavourable for shooting, 

 being rainy the most of the time we were out. After 

 breakfast, we set out on our return to the ship, which 

 we reached by seven o'clock in the evening ; with 

 about seven dozen of wild-fowl, and two seals ; the 

 most of them shot while I w 7 as rowing about, explor- 

 ing the harbours and coves which I found in my way; 



