IN THE PACIFIC. 45 



The anchorage, called Cumberland Bay, but 

 in reality a mere indenture in the coast, is on 

 this side, and here we found H.M.S. " Scylla " 

 at anchor. From Captain Boxer, who com- 

 manded her, we learnt that our orders to pro- 

 ceed to Rio had been countermanded. "We heard 

 from the officers of the " Scylla " that there was 

 first-rate sea-fishing to be had, but that on the 

 island the goats, though numerous, were very 

 wild and difficult to approach. Having a few 

 hours to spare the afternoon of our arrival, I 

 started in the gig in search of them. Following 

 the coast-line to the eastward, we had not gone 

 above a couple of miles before we saw some 

 goats feeding in a hollow with precipices on all 

 sides, so that it seemed wonderful how they 

 ever got there, and difficult for them to escape. 

 They appeared not to notice the boat, and 

 allowed us to approach to about 100 yards, 

 when a ball from my gun rolled one over : the 

 others bolted in different directions, but not 

 before a second had shared the fate of its mate, 

 and came tumbling down the rocks with a ball 



