XIII LARGE NUMBERS OF SEALS 303 



structure of these mountains. The complicated and lofty 

 ranges bore a noble aspect of durability — equally profitless, 

 however, to man and to all other animals. Granite to the 

 geologist is classic ground : from its widespread limits, and its 

 beautiful and compact texture, few rocks have been more 

 anciently recognised. Granite has given rise, perhaps, to more 

 discussion concerning its origin than any other formation. 

 We generally see it constituting the fundamental rock, and, how- 

 ever formed, we know it is the deepest layer in the crust of this 

 globe to which man has penetrated. The limit of man's know- 

 ledge in any subject possesses a high interest, which is perhaps 

 increased by its close neighbourhood to the realms of imagination. 



January isf, 1835. — The new year is ushered in with the 

 ceremonies proper to it in these regions. She lays out no false 

 hopes ; a heavy north-western gale, with steady rain, bespeaks 

 the rising year. Thank God, we are not destined here to see 

 the end of it, but hope then to be in the Pacific Ocean, where 

 a blue sky tells one there is a heaven, — a something beyond 

 the clouds above our heads. 



The north-west winds prevailing for the next four days, we 

 only managed to cross a great bay, and then anchored in 

 another secure harbour. I accompanied the Captain in a boat 

 to the head of a deep creek. On the way the number of seals 

 which we saw was quite astonishing : every bit of flat rock 

 and parts of the beach were covered with them. They 

 appeared to be of a loving disposition, and lay huddled together, 

 fast asleep, like so many pigs ; but even pigs would have been 

 ashamed of their dirt, and of the foul smell which came from 

 them. Each herd was watched by the patient but inauspicious 

 eyes of the turkey-buzzard. This disgusting bird, with its bald 

 scarlet head, formed to wallow in putridity, is very common on 

 the west coast, and their attendance on the seals shows on 

 what they rely for their food. We found the water (probably 

 only that of the surface) nearly fresh : this was caused by the 

 number of torrents which, in the form of cascades, came 

 tumbling over the bold granite mountains into the sea. The 

 fresh water attracts the fish, and these bring many terns, gulls, 

 and two kinds of cormorant. We saw also a pair of the 

 beautiful black-necked swans, and several small sea-otters, the 

 fur of which is held in such high estimation. In returning, we 



