December, 



62 AVOYAGETO 



«776. point of the harbour, his anchor having flartcd before they 

 had time to fhorten in the cable. This obliged them to fet 

 fail, and drag the anchor after them, till they had room to 

 heave it up; and then they found one of its palms was 

 broken off. 



As foon as we had anchored, I ordered all the boats to be 

 hoifted out ; the fliip to be moored with a kedge anchor ; 

 and the water- calks to be got ready to fend on fhore. 

 In the mean time I landed, to look for the moft convenient 

 fpot where they might be filled, and to fee what elfe the 

 place afforded. 



I found the fliore, in a manner, covered with penguins 

 and other birds, and feais. Thefe latter were not nume- 

 rous, but fo infenfible of fear (which plainly indicated that 

 they were unaccuftomed to fuch vifiters), that we killed as 

 many as we chofe, for the fake of their fat or blubber, to 

 make oil for our lamps, and other ufes. Frefli water was 

 in no lefs plenty than were birds; for every gully afforded 

 a large iheam. But not a fmgle tree or flarub, nor the lead 

 fign of any, was to be difcovered, and but very little herb- 

 age of any fort. The appearances, as we failed into the 

 harbour, had flattered us with the hope of meeting with 

 fomething confiderable growing here, as we obferved the 

 fides of many of the hills to be of a lively green. But I now 

 found that this was occafioned by a fingle plant, which, 

 with the other natural produdtions, fhall be defcribed in 

 another place. Before I returned to my fliip, I afcended 

 the firfl ridge of rocks, which rife in a kind of amphithe- 

 atre above one another. I was in hopes, by this means, of 

 obtaining a view of the country; but before I reached the 

 top, there came on fo thick a fog, that I could hardly find 



, 3 ""'y 



