270 SPORT IN THE DESTRUCTION OF SEALS. 



in a gale of wind, when crowding sail to madness 

 was their only hope ; but, fortunately, a timely shift 

 of wind enabled them to clear the main land by a 

 hair's breadth, and dispelled all their gloomy fears. 



On the 16th both vessels stood in for the Abrolhas' 

 Islands, and at 9 o'clock were snugly anchored amid 

 the cluster, of which, by ascending our tops, twenty- 

 five different islands could be counted. As soon as 

 our ground-tackle was secured, we struck the topsail 

 and topgallant yards and the topgallantmasts, housed 

 our mizzen topmast, and then unbent all the sails, 

 except the spensers: our object beingto present as little 

 surface as possible to the action of the wind ; thereby 

 rendering our anchorage more secure. The anchor- 

 age showed coarse white sand, combined with pul- 

 verized coral and shell, which constitutes excellent 

 holding-ground. 



'Not expecting the humpbacks in before the first 

 of August, we passed the time in making excursions 

 to the various islands of the group. "We soon found 

 a novel and exciting sport in the destruction of 

 seals, which exist here in great numbers. These 

 creatures bring forth their young on the land ; and, 

 this being the season in which the^^ breed, they could 

 at all times be seen basking in the sun, fast asleep, 

 and quietly enjoying themselves to the full. Our 

 method of attack was to approach as slyly as pos- 

 sible, and deal heavy blows on the tip of the nose, 

 which is the most sensitive portion of their organism. 

 If wxll aimed, the first blow despatches them ; but, 

 on the contrary, if you should deliver it on the shoul- 

 ders, back, or quarters, it seems to produce no dele- 

 terious eflect on the animal, which instantly rears 



