1690.] WHALES AND SEA-WOLFS. 27 



We observ'd a little Island to the Southiuard, but we did 

 not come near it. That Coast of the Isle of Tristan which 

 we saw, was about two Leagues long ; it seem'd to be ex- 

 treamly agreeable, tho' very steep, as I have said ; and tho' 

 we had Mists from time to time, which depriv'd us in part 

 of the sight of it, and sometimes hid it all entirely from us, 

 yet we could see the Hills from the top to the bottom, were 

 adorn'd with the most beautiful verdure in the World, and 

 we saw the Sun with Pleasure thro' tall and straight Trees, 

 with which the tops of the Mountains were cover'd. Birds 

 were every where flying about, the running Waters flow'd 

 abundantly in several places, from Bason to Bason, making 

 admirable Cascades ; and from the foot of the Hills, to which 

 they rapidly rowPd, they fell precipitately, into the Sea. All 

 the different Beauties of this charming Prospect, made us 

 more desirous to have a nearer view of it, and refresh our 

 selves in so delicious a Place ; but we desir'd it in vain. 



The Sea was almost cover'd with Whales and Sea-Wolfs, 

 which swam to the very Shoar of the Isle playing with the 

 Water, and some of them ran against our Frigat ; about 

 which flew a great number of Sea-fowl of several kinds, some 

 as big as our Geese, others no bigger than Ducks. The sight 

 of them fill'd us with new Joy, as did every thing that 

 brought the much desir'd Land to our Eemembrance : 'Tvvas 

 to no purpose for us to flatter our selves with hopes of 

 Landing on the lovely Isle that lay before us, and perhaps 

 we might have stay'd there too long if we had. There was 

 the greater likelihood of it, inasmuch as our Healths were 

 very much impair'd, the most Vigorous finding his Strength 

 extreamly decay'd, but we cou'd discover neither Bay nor 

 Port, our Captain not having done all that was in his Power 

 to search after one : We durst not stay near the Shoar in the 

 Night-time ; besides, we were too much expos'd to violent 

 gusts of Wind which blew off Land from between the 

 Mountains, so we pursu'd our Voyage towards the Cape. 



