272 



GUNNING — FORT ISLAND AGAIN. 



boiled the eggs and found them excellent eating. They are not 

 quite as rich in flavor as hens' eggs, but certainly fully equal them 

 in quality. With this addition to our stock of provisions we had 

 several new dishes, among them a most delicious rice pudding. 

 In the evening we passed the highlands of Meccatina, nearly six 

 hundred feet above the sea, and also those of Mutton bay, about 

 seven hundred feet high, a small settlement where dwells a mission- 

 ary who ministers to the people on this part of the coast; and 

 anchored in the snug harbor of Great Meccatina, where we lay all 

 night. Here we again saw the magnificent comet, we had occa- 

 sionally seen before, in a northeast by north direction, and appar- 

 ently about 30° above the horizon. It was about 11 o'clock p. m. 

 that I made this observation. 



In the morning we proceeded eastward with a fine breeze. As 

 we passed, all the harbors were full of Newfoundland fishing vessels, 

 many of them from Harbor Grace. Bale des Roches was filled 

 so full that we could scarce obtain anchorage. I found on many 

 of the rocks distinct and well defined glacial scratches, and noted 

 other peculiarities of the location. We remained here all day on ac- 

 count of the intense fog everywhere. The next day we managed, 

 after beating about for some time, to reach Old Fort island again 

 whence we had started, after one of the most enjoyable trips I ever 

 experienced. 



