1773. ROUND THE WORLD. 113 



Of the fan-tail, there are different sorts, but the 

 body of the most remarkable one is scarcely larger 

 than a good filbert, yet it spreads a tail of most beau- 

 tiful plumage, full three-quarters of a semicircle, of 

 at least four or five inches radius. 



For three or four days after we arrived in Pickers- 

 gill Harbour, and as we were clearing the woods to 

 set up our tents, &c, a four-footed animal was seen 

 by three or four of our people ; but as no two gave 

 the same description of it, I cannot say of what kind 

 it is ; all, however, agreed, that it was about the size 

 of a cat, with short legs, and of mouse colour: one 

 of the seamen, and he who had the best view of it, 

 said it had a bushy tail, and was the most like a jackall 

 of any animal he knew. The most probable conjec- 

 ture is, that it is of a new species ; be this as it may, 

 we are now certain, that this country is not so desti- 

 tute of quadrupeds as was once thought. 



The most mischievous animals here, are the small 

 black sand flies, which are very numerous, and so 

 troublesome, that they exceed every thing of the 

 kind I ever met with ; wherever they bite they cause 

 a swelling, and such an intolerable itching, that it 

 is not possible to refrain from scratching, which at 

 last brings on ulcers like the small-pox. 



The almost continual rains may be reckoned an- 

 other evil attending this bay ; though, perhaps, this 

 may only happen at this season of the year. Neverthe- 

 less, the situation of the country, the vast height, 

 and nearness of the mountains, seem to subject it to 

 much rain at all times. Our people, who were daily 

 exposed to the rain, felt no ill effects from it ; on the 

 contrary, such as were sick and ailing when we 

 came in, recovered daily, and the whole crew soon 

 became strong and vigorous ; which can only be 

 attributed to the healthiness of the place, and the 

 fresh provisions it afforded. The beer certainly con- 

 tributed not a little : as I have already observed, we 

 at first made it of a decoction of the spruce leaves ; 



VOL. III. I 



