198 CAPTAIN COOK'S VOYAGES 



in one of the most inhospitable climates in the world,without 

 having sagacity enough to provide themselves with such 

 conveniences as may render life, in some measure, more 

 comfortable. 



Barren as this country is, it abounds with a variety of 

 unknown plants, and gave sufficient employment to Mr. 

 Forster and his party. 



On the 28th, they weighed and stood out to sea, resuming 

 their course to the east ; and the next day, they passed 

 Cape Horn, and entered the Southern Atlantic Ocean. It is 

 the most southern extremity on a group of islands of un- 

 equal extent, lying before Nassau Bay, known by the name 

 of Hermit Islands. 



From Cape Horn, they stood over for Success Bay, 

 assisted by the currents, which set to the north. Before this 

 they had hoisted their colours, and fired two guns ; and 

 soon after, they saw a smoke rise out of the woods, above 

 the south point of the bay, which was supposed to be made 

 by the natives. As soon as they got off the bay, Lieutenant 

 Pickersgill went to see if any traces remained of the Adven- 

 ture ; but he saw not the least signs of any ship having been 

 there lately. The Captain had inscribed his ship's name on 

 a card, which he nailed to a tree, at the place where the 

 Endeavour watered. 



In the morning, at three o'clock, they bore up for the east 

 end of Staten Land, where they arrived next day in the 

 afternoon. 



After dinner they hoisted out three boats, and landed with 

 a large party of men ; some to kill seals ; others to catch 

 or kill birds, fish, or what came in their way. To find the 

 former, it mattered not where they landed, for the whole 

 shore was covered with them ; and, by the noise they made, 

 one would have thought the island was stocked with cows 

 and calves. On landing they found they were a different 

 animal from seals, but in shape and motion exactly resem- 

 bling them. The sailors called them lions, on account of the 

 great resemblance the male has to that beast. Here were 

 also the same kind of seals which they found in New Zealand, 

 generally known by the name of sea-bears ; at least they 

 gave them that name. They were in general so tame, or 

 rather stupidf, as to suffer them to come near enough to 

 knock them down with sticks ; but the large ones were 

 shot, not thinking it safe to approach them. They also 

 found on the island, abundance of penguins and shags. 

 Here were geese and ducks, but not many ; birds of prey, 

 and a few small birds. In the evening they returned on 

 board with plenty of spoil. 



Next day, being January the 1st, 1775, finding that 



