SOUTH AMERICA. 



205 



The afternoon of the 20th the anchor was weighed^ 

 and the Congress proceeded up the river, but came to 

 anchor about ten o'clock at night, being apprehensive 

 of approaching too near the island of Flores on the one 

 hand, and the English bank on the other. We made 

 sail at day light, but the wind slackening and a strong 

 current setting downwards, we again anchored within a 

 few miles of Flores. On the main land from Maldo- 

 nado to this place, we were continually in sight of a 

 range of high hills, in places rising to considerable 

 peaks, but not deserving the name of mountains. 

 With our spy glasses we could discover a vast number 

 of seals moving about on the island, or lying upon the 

 naked rocks, by which it is surrounded. As it was 

 now a perfect calm, and the weather delightful, a num- 

 ber of us resolved to make an attack upon the island, 

 and possess ourselves of a few of the skins of its in- 

 habitants, not as warlike trophies, but for the purpose 

 of making caps, saddle housings, or stuffing them for 

 museums. Our approach to shore was attended with 

 some difficulty on account of the surf which never 

 ceases to dash upon the rocks. The roaring of the 

 gea, was emulated by the noise of the seals, of which 

 we now discovered astonishing numbers. The hoarse 

 roaring of the males, and the bleating of the females 

 and younger seals, bore resemblance to the mingled 

 concert of domestic cattle, cows, calves, and the ac- 

 companiment of bleating sheep. Besides thousands 

 upon the shore, there were still greater num])ers in 

 the water, some as far out as thirty or forty yards. 

 They appeared to be in continual motion, their heads 

 appearing and disappearing, and continually keeping 

 up a dreadful noise. As soon as we landed, the seals 



