292 
breadth of the entrance is about forty 
yards. When over tho bar, and with- 
mn the basin, the water became as 
smooth as a pond, forming a strong 
contrast to the continual turbulence 
of the sea without. This basin oc- 
cupies a considerable portion of 
the bottom of the crater; and, 
since its first discovery, has much in- 
creased in size, being now more than 
a mile in circumference. Its depthin 
the deepest place is thirty fathoms, 
varying to seven or cight close to the 
shore. The latter, around it, is in ge- 
neral level to some little distance, 
where the ascent to the summit be- 
comes more perpendicular: near the 
water the grass is short; farther off it 
is long, coarse, and in such dense 
tufts, as to render it difficult to pene- 
trate through them. Here were found 
an amazing number of seals, enjoying 
themselves, seemingly secure from in- 
terruption ; but, when alarmed by the 
Janding of our men, set up a low 
Aoarse noise, like the murmuring of 
dogs, and made directly for the wa- 
ter. 
sticks; one of the seamen having 
seized a young one alive, the dam con- 
trived to throw him down, and thus 
liberated the captive, both getting off 
in safety. 
Some appearances of wreck having 
been observed from the ship by our 
glasses, it seemed probable that a ves- 
sel had experienced misfortune in 
this inhospitable spot, and the boat 
had been dispatched to ascertain the 
fact. Such, imdeed, was the case. 
The wreck of a large vessel was scat- 
tered about: the basin. Some rude 
huts were constructed out of the frag- 
ments, and roofed with tarpaulins and 
sails. Under these, and carefully pro- 
‘tected from the weather, were a con- 
siderable number of casks of oil, and 
several thousand seal-skins. Nothing 
alive, however, could be found ; but, 
while debating the point what had be- 
come of the crew, one of our men, in 
scouring the huts, discovered a bottle 
in which was a letter, furnishing the - 
requisite information. This produc- 
tion, as remarkable for its orthography 
as perspicuity, being worthy of a 
place in the cabinets of the curious, 
Lcopy it verbatim et literatim:— 
Ship Venus From and belonging to Lon- 
don 3d of June 1811 Uriael Bunker Mas- 
*ter stopid here, 84 days from London 
te to timore. Here found 8 men on 
the island Left by their ship being cast 
Account of the Island of St, Paul, 
Several were killed by means of’ 
[Nov, 1, 
ashore the ship fox from Port Jaekson on 
askining voyage, william Cox Master of 
the said vessel Left here 4 months ago 
with eight of his men the ship that caryied 
him would Not cary any more he left a 
letter with his men to beg no person nor 
persons will by any means Cary off any 
of his Goods or Artekles that he Leaves 
here as he will come here And yet them as 
soon as he can get a Vessel he will Come 
And take away his skins and Every Arte- 
kle Belonging to his vessel the ship was 
owned By Mr. Camel and Co. port Jack- 
son New Southwales or New Holand 
The Venus is a Whaler 
Captain Bunker begs that the person 
opens this will Lave another to the same 
purpos. 
To the Duteh navigator Flaming we 
owe the discovery of this spot, in 1697, 
when he found the basin, now so spa- 
cious, scarcely a pistol-shot long, and 
the rocks forming the bar so much 
higher than at present, that the boat 
could with much difficulty be dragged 
overthem. Should the same changes 
go on equally rapid in decomposing 
the rock, the basin may in thirty years 
more be accessible to the smaller seal- 
ing vessels. The island lies in Iati- 
tude 38° 42’ S. longitude 77° 53’ E. 
It is about four miles long and three 
broad, the surface presenting nothing 
but a brown coarse grass, intermixed 
with abundance of ‘stones, and near 
the basin some reeds, but neither tree 
nor shrub. To gain the surface, there 
being no other landing-place, it is ne- 
cessary to enter the basin, and. ascend 
by a very difficult and fatiguing path 
the side of the crater. ‘The height of 
the latter, reckoning the depth of wa- 
ter, is estimated at more than 90 feet; 
the circumference at the bottom a mile 
and a half; at the summit or mouth 
about two miles. Nothing of a similar 
‘nature, approaching to these dimen- 
sions, is known in Europe; nor, if I 
remember right, in any part of the 
world, except possibly among. the 
Andes. The summit of the crater is 
the highest part. of the island, which 
shelves towards:the north. 
Around the basin are several hot- 
springs, (another proof, if any, were 
wanting, of the volcanic nature of the 
island,) said to be within, twenty, or 
twenty-five degrees. of the» \boiling 
point. And, asthe basin abounds with 
fine fish, easily caught, it has been 
represented that they might be thrown 
from the cold water to the hot, for boil- 
ing, without being disengaged from 
the hook, though this is an exaggera- 
tion. 
