ISLAND OF AMSTERDAM. 47 



ings, and adventures having been fully described 

 in his own published account, I need do no more 

 here than allude to them. 



We encountered a good deal of heavy weather, 

 shifting winds, and consequently irregular seas, 

 during our run to Swan River ; and owing to the 

 deep state of our loaded little vessel, her decks were 

 almost constantly flooded. For many days we had 

 never less than an inch and a half of water on them 

 all over ; and this extra weight, in our already over 

 burthened craft, did not, of course, add to her live- 

 liness ; however, she struggled on, and on the 

 1st of November bore us in sight of the Island of 

 Amsterdam, and in the afternoon past to the south- 

 ward of it, sufliciently near to determine its position. 

 The summit of the Island, which has rather a 

 peaked appearance, we found to be 2,760 feet high, 

 in latitude 38° 53' South, longitude 77*' 37' East 

 of Greenwich. It is singular that though this 

 Island, which is almost a finger post for ships 

 bound from the Cape either to New Holland or 

 India, has been so long known to all navigators of 

 these seas, its true longitude should have been till 

 now unascertained. The western side presented 

 the appearance of a broken down crater, nor indeed 

 can there be any reason to doubt its volcanic origin. 

 Light brown was the pervading colour upon the 

 sides of the island, and appeared to be caused by 

 stunted bushes and grass. The southern island, 

 St. Paul's, affords a good anchorage in 21 fathoms, 



