136 



porter's journal* 



ever, 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 the- 

 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, I 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 in- 

 capable of making any exertions whatever to escape those 

 in pursuit of it, and quietly waits the blow which termi- 

 nates its existence. A small blow on the nose will kill 

 them in an instant ; but when tliey 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 pur- 

 suit ; they are then very difticult to take. We also found 

 plenty of birds called shags, v/hich did not appear alarmed 

 in the slightest degree at our approach, and numbers of 

 them were knocked down by our people with clubs, and ta- 

 ken 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 animals we found on this 

 spot. After trying in vain to catch some fish, we left the 

 cove and proceeded along the shore to the northward, with 

 the expectation of finding another landing-place, but were 

 much disappointed ; for, after rowing as far as Point Chris- 

 topher, a distance of fifteen miles, we found the shore eve- 

 ry where bound with craggy rocks, against which the sea 

 broke with inconceivable violence. The rocks were every 

 where covered 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 v/ere 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 5 for she was of the lightest con- 



