402 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



for the elephants, great or small, young or old. I have 

 seen them attack old ones, and carry young ones off. 

 They run themselves aground on the beach very often, 

 so that we lance them frequently, and shoot into them. 

 This last season I think 1000 pups were brought forth 

 on this island, and as many more on the other two ; 

 and I suppose, when I passed near those islands, in 

 the passage out to Bengal, in the Grand Turk, they 

 must have been almost innumerable, seeing some 

 parties or other have been oiling here ever since, and 

 so many yet remain. If they are not disturbed for 

 two or three years, the increase must be great and 

 profitable, especially if their skins are attended to, 

 and salted. "We have killed about eighty since we 

 landed, and suppose we shall kill about two a-week 

 through the year. We have made about 1000 gallons 

 of oil, for the purpose of buying a boat, if possible. 

 Of seals we have not taken a dozen. Our situation, 

 like all new settlers, has not been very comfortable. 

 We have not ate bread these six months ; that parcel 

 you supplied me with lasted about that time. But 

 turnips have been bread to us. I hope to have as 

 many potatoes in three or four months as will always 

 stand by us while we remain on the island ; but cloth 

 I shall want, and must depend upon vessels for a 

 supply of them. The prospect of one day making 

 something of the oil and skins of the elephant and 

 seals, from the fish and other matters, consoles me for 

 all other privations. I shall now submit, for your 



