in ihs Pacific Ocean, 



41 



so completely covered with then! as to appear as though it was 

 impossible for another to get in the space ; they would all keep 

 their eyes fixed constantly on us, and we at first supposed them 

 prepared to attack us. We soon, however, discovered them to 

 be the most timid of animals, and in a few moments knocked 

 down hundreds of them with our clubs, some of which we 

 brought on board, and found to be excellent eating, and many 

 preferred them greatly to turtle. 



We found on the beach a few seals, and one fine large green 

 turtle ; but as the boat was small, and the distance to row very 

 great, 1 concluded on leaving it, as I did not wish to encumber 

 her with its weight. Several of the seals were killed by our men, 

 and proved of that kind which do not produce the fur. Nothing 

 can be more sluggish nor more inactive than this animal while on 

 the sand ; it appears incapable of making any exertions whatever 

 to escape those in pursuit of it, and quietly waits the blow 

 which terminates its existence. A small blow on the nose 

 will kill them in an instant ; but when they are in the water, 

 or even on the rocks, nothing can exceed their activity : they 

 seem then to be a different animal altogether; shy, cunning, 

 and very alert in pursuit of their prey, and in avoiding pursuit ; 

 they are then very difficult to take. We also found plenty of 

 birds called shags, which did not appear alarmed in the slightest 

 degree at our approach, and numbers of them were knocked 

 down by our people with clubs, and taken on board. These, 

 with the exception of some other aquatic birds, and some large 

 lizards with red heads, and a species of crab, were the only ani- 

 mals v/e found on this spot. The rocks were every where co- 

 vered with seals, penguins, guanas, and pelicans, and the sea 

 filled with green turtle, which might have been taken with the 

 greatest ease, had we been enabled to take them into our boat ; 

 for we sometimes rowed right against them, without their making 

 any exertion to get out of our way. Multitudes of enormous 

 sharks were swimming about us, and from time to time caused 

 us no little uneasiness, from the ferocious manner in which they 

 came at the boat and snapped at our oars ; for she was of the 

 lightest construction, with remarkably thin plank, and a gripe 

 from one of those would have torn them from her timbers, 

 but we guarded as much as lay in our power against the danger, 

 by thrusting boarding-pikes into them as they came up. 



Where we landed, the shore was moderately low, the soil ap- 

 parently rich and moist, and the vegetation luxuriant, many of 

 the trees being thirty feet in height, the underwood being very 

 thick, and putting forth vigorously, and the grass as high as a 

 man's middle. The rain appeared to be falling in torrents on 

 the high lands, but we could see nothing that indicated the 



Voyages and Travels, No, XLVII. VgL. VIIL q 



