146 
PORTER’S JOURNAL. 
point, very good landing, where we went on shore, and, to ow 
great surprize, and no little alarm, on entering the bushes, found 
myriads of guanas, of an enormous size and the most hideous 
appearance imaginable ; the rocks forming the cove were als® 
covered with them, and, from their taking to the water very rea*- 
dily, we were induced to believe them a distinct species from 
those found among the keys of the West Indies. In some spots 
a half acre of ground would be so completely covered with them, 
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 how¬ 
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 incumber 
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 or 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 rlert in pur¬ 
suit of their prey, and in avoiding pursuit, they are then very 
difficult to take. We also found a number of birds called shags, 
which did not appear alarmed in the slightest degree at our ap¬ 
proach, 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 animals we found on this spot. 
After trying in vain to catch some fish, we left the cove, and pro¬ 
ceeded along the shore to the northward, with the expectation of 
finding another landing-place, but were much disappointed; for, 
