1*175. ROUND THE WORLD. 195 



about two miles broad, well sheltered from all winds ; 

 and I judged there might be good anchorage before 

 some sandy beaches which are on each side, and 

 likewise near a low flat isle, towards the head of the 

 bay. As I had come to a resolution not to bring the 

 ship in, I did not think it worth my while to go and 

 examine these places ; for it did not seem probable 

 that any one would ever be benefited by the dis- 

 covery. I landed in three different places, displayed 

 our colours, and took possession of the country in 

 his Majesty's name, under a discharge of small arms. 



I judged that the tide rises about four or five feet, 

 and that it is high water on the full and change days 

 about eleven o'clock. 



The head of the bay, as well as two places on each 

 side, was terminated by perpendicular ice-cliffs of 

 considerable height. Pieces were continually break- 

 ing off, and floating out to sea ; and a great fall 

 happened while we were in the bay, which made a 

 noise like cannon. 



The inner parts of the country were not less 

 savage and horrible. The wild rocks raised their 

 lofty summits, till they were lost in the clouds, and 

 the valleys lay covered with everlasting snow. Not 

 a tree was to be seen, nor a shrub even big enough 

 to make a toothpick. The only vegetation we met 

 with, was a coarse strong-bladed grass, growing in 

 tufts, wild burnet, and a plant like moss, which 

 sprung from the rocks. 



Seals, or sea bears, were pretty numerous. They 

 were smaller than those at Staten Land ; perhaps the 

 most of those we saw were females ; for the shore 

 swarmed with young cubs. We saw none of that 

 sort which we call lions; but there were some of 

 those which the writer of Lord Anson's Voyage 

 describes under that name ; at least they appeared to 

 us to be of the same sort ; and are, in my opinion, very 

 improperly called lions ; for I could not see any 

 grounds for the comparison. 



o £ 



