288 ANTARCTIC CRUISE. 



squadron flying as they had anticipated. They, notwithstanding, stood 

 in, lowered a boat, and despatched several officers to put up the signal, 

 make experiments, and collect specimens. The boat approached an 

 indentation on the west side, too open to be called a bay, and found 

 that the surf was running high, and beating with great violence against 

 the rocks, which, together with the kelp, rendered it dangerous to 

 attempt landing. They made for several other places which looked 

 favourable at a distance, but on approaching them, they were found 

 even less accessible. The boat then returned to the first place to make 

 another attempt, which was attended with great difficulty. The boat's 

 anchor was dropped, and she was backed in with great caution to the 

 edge of the rollers ; the surf was very high, and rolled in with a noise 

 like thunder, breaking furiously upon the rocks, so as to make the boat 

 fairly tremble, and threatening every moment to overwhelm her; once 

 or twice she was prevented from getting broad side-to by hauling out 

 towards her anchor. At length, after a dozen fruitless attempts, and 

 awaiting a favourable opportunity, Mr. Eld and a quarter-master 

 succeeded in getting ashore, but not without being immersed up to 

 their breasts. It was found impossible to land any instruments ; and 

 the quarter-master was despatched to erect the necessary signals, 

 while Mr. Eld proceeded to visit the penguin-rookery not far distant. 

 On approaching the island, it had appeared to be covered with white 

 spots: these excited conjecture; but after landing, the exhalations 

 rendered it not long doubtful that it was birdlime. 



Mr. Eld, in his journal, gives the following account of his visit : 

 " Although I had heard so often of the great quantity of birds on the 

 uninhabited islands, I was not prepared to see them in such myriads 

 as here. The whole sides of the rugged hills were literally covered 

 with them. Having passed a deep fissure in the rocks, I ascended a 

 crag that led to what I thought was their principal roost, and at every 

 step my astonishment increased. Such a din of squeaking, squalling, 

 and gabbling, I never before heard or dreamed could be made by any 

 of the feathered tribe. It was impossible to hear one's self speak. It 

 appeared as if every one was vying with his neighbour to make the 

 greatest possible noise. I soon found my presence particularly dis- 

 pleased them, for they snapped at me in all directions, catching hold 

 of my trousers, shaking and pinching my flesh so violently as to make 

 me flinch and stand upon the defensive. As we wanted a number 

 of specimens, I commenced kicking them down the precipice, and 

 knocked on the head those w 7 hich had the temerity to attack me. 

 After having collected a number, and a few eggs, I laid them aside, 

 whilst I ascended higher on the hill. I had not left them more than 



