70 



STATEN LAND. 



[1823. 



cidence happens to be, such is the degree of altitude in the atmosphere 

 where the appearance is produced. This shining streak of light is 

 always brightest in clear weather, and indicates to the experienced 

 mariner, while at fifteen or twenty miles' distance, not only the extent 

 and figure of the field, but even the quality of the ice. 



From the second day after we left the " Island of Desolation," up 

 to this date, March 19th, we have not passed a day without seeing fields 

 of broken ice, or ice-islands, or both combined ; and during all that 

 period of sixty-six days, we have had, every day, more or less snow 

 or hail. This was very unpleasant, as we could not keep fire on board, 

 on account of our stock of wood being nearly exhausted ; although 

 we found far less ice, and much finer weather, south of latitude sixty- 

 seven, than we did between sixty-seven and sixty. 



On Wednesday, the 19th of March, at 10 o'clock P.M., we bade adieu 

 to the cheerless shores of New South Greenland, and steered for 

 Staten Land, with a fresh breeze from the south-east, which lasted until 

 Monday, the 24th ; when, at 9 A.M., we anchored in the harbour of 

 St. John's, or East Harbour, in seven fathoms of water, clay bottom. 



March 24th. — Staten Land is an island which forms the south- 

 eastern extremity of South America, and of which I will give some 

 account in the next chapter. Knowing that its shores were sometimes 

 the resort of fur-seal, I had the boats manned within an hour after we 

 cast anchor, and sent them round the island in search of that animal. 

 In the mean time, I encountered an old acquaintance, in the brig Her- 

 silia, of Stonington, Conn., Captain James Sheffield commander, who 

 had come into these distant regions on a similar errand with our own. 



It may easily be conceived that it was very pleasant to meet one's 

 fellow-townsmen so far from home, and engaged in the same pursuit as 

 ourselves. 



March 28th. — On Friday, the 28th, our boats returned from their 

 coasting enterprise, with one hundred and eighty-two fur-seal skins. At 

 seven, P. M., we got under way, in company with the Hersilia, and 

 steered for the Falkland Islands, where we arrived on Sunday morning 

 at three o'clock, and anchored in Shallop Cove, on the east side of 

 New Island, in our former situation. At four A. M., I despatched the 

 boats in search of seal ; but, after an absence of seventeen hours, they 

 returned with only twenty-two fur-skins. 



March Slst. — On the following morning at four o'clock, A. M., we 

 again got under way and steered to the south and west, with a fresh 

 breeze from N.W. by W. 



April 3d— Thursday found us in lat. 62° 8' S., long. 66° 14' W. 

 when we took a fresh breeze from the south-east, and steered to the 

 westward, until we were in lat. 65° 42' S., long. 110° 16' W. 



April 24th. — During this run we saw few if any indications of land, 

 and there was very little ice in sight. We now bore up for Staten 

 Land, with a fresh breeze from S.S.W., attended by a thick snow- 

 storm ; and continued steering to the north and east, until Thursday, 

 the 24th, when, at eight P. M., we anchored in Hallett's Harbour, in 

 five fathoms of water, on the north side of Staten Land. On the fol- 

 lowing morning, at four A. M., the boats were sent round the island in 

 search of seal ; and did not return until Tuesday, the 29th, at 5 P.M. 



