Extract from the Journal of Captain Henry King. S87 
seeing them safe among the rocks, we made all sail, the wind being 
fresh from the eastward. As we were bound round Cape Horn, we 
sent down our royal masts and yards, and made every thing as 
snug as possible; for after the experience of seven voyages 
round Cape Horn, I am authorised to say, that preparation 
ought to be made for stormy v/eather at all seasons of the year ; 
and I am also of opinion, that ships bound round Cape Horn 
from the eastward, should endeavour to be off the Cape in the 
winter, as I have invariably found easterly winds at that time. 
We experienced a very fine passage to St Helena, where we 
refreshed the crew, refitted the ship, and arrived safe at Dept- 
ford on the ISth July 1819. 
P. S. Adams told me, that the island had been inhabited 
prior to their settling upon it ; for they had at several places 
dug up great quantities of human bones, which induced them 
to believe, that those places had been appropriated for the in- 
terment of the dead. They had also found below the surface 
of the earth a great many images. I did not hear whether 
they had found any metals ; but I recollected, after leaving the 
island, that the stones with which they sharpened their tools, 
appeared to have a yellowish metallic appearance; and also 
some veins of yellow metal in them. I much regret not having 
examined them more closely, or bringing a piece with me. — 
One of the sailors gave a shilling, to be tied round the neck of 
one of their children ; but before I left the island it was brought 
to me, to be restored to the donor, observing at the same time, 
that they had no use for it, and it would buy him something when 
he got to England. Old Adams informed me, when they first 
settled on the island, that there were plenty of fish ; but for 
some time before my touching at this place, they could not 
catch any, and they thought the copper of the Bounty had poi- 
soned them all. I have before observed, that the island produces 
yams, and other esculent roots, which we could not find names 
for. I presented them on my departure with some pease, barley, 
flour, orange, melon, pumpkin, celery, and many other seeds, 
which I had saved during my voyage, (intending to give them 
should I ever touch at the island). Salt is procured among 
the rocks, the sea being hove into the cavities during the blow- 
ing weather, is left there, and by the rays. of the sun produces 
