[9] The name of this bird has been said to have been derived from "Alb," a priest's white vestment; but I incline to think that Rogers is right in his spelling of it, and that it was spelt Alcatros, from the Spanish "Alca, a razor-bill," the two birds being much alike in the shape of the bills. [10] Curiously enough, on his return home, Rogers learnt that this French ship, which so mysteriously "outwent them," was the very vessel in which Captain Stradling, of the "Cinque Ports" (Selkirk's ship), returned to England after being kept four years' prisoner by the Spaniards. [11] The Allspice tree of the West Indies. This tree usually grows from seed eaten and carried by birds, which easily accounts for its being found upon this island. [12] Thirty years later Commodore Anson found some of Selkirk's ear-marked goats when he touched at Juan Fernandez. [13] The "half galley" of the Mediterranean was a vessel of about 120 feet long by 18 wide, and 9 or 10 deep, fitted with two large lateen sails, and masts that could be lowered on deck at pleasure. She carried five cannon, and was rowed with twenty oars on a side. [Illustration] CHAPTER IV. FROM LOBOS TOWARD GUIAQUIL IN PERU. [Sidenote: 1709] [Sidenote: _Livers of old seals unwholesome._] [Sidenote: _Information of rich ships._] [Sidenote: _A large prize taken._] Having given his ship the usual "good heel," and "tallowing her low down," Rogers came to sail March 30th, at ten o'clock, with his new launch in tow from Lobos. On more than one occasion Rogers shows a decided want of sympathy with the sportsmen of the expedition, and relates here "how there were in this island abundance of vultures, alias carrion crows, which looked so like turkeys that one of our officers at landing bless'd himself at the sight, hoping to fare deliciously. He was so eager he would not stay till the boat could put him ashore, but leap'd into the water with his gun, and getting near to a parcel let fly at 'em. But when he came to take up his game, it stunk insufferably and made us merry at his mistake." These birds were no doubt a flock of Gallenazo, described by Darwin as frequenting the wooded isles on the west coast of South America, and as "feeding exclusively upon what the sea throws up, and the carcases of dead seals," which, from the following entry in the journal must have been very plentiful in this island, "where," says Rogers, "owing to the presence of certain unwholesome old seals, whose livers disagreed with those of our crew that eat them; the air, with the wind off shore, is loaded with an ugly noisome smell, which gave me a violent headach, and was complain'd of by all," as quite unlike the spice-laden breezes of Juan Fernandez. Rogers' headache and these unwholesome old seals were no doubt quickly forgotten at sea, when listening to the stories of their Spanish prisoners about "a certain rich widow of the late Vice Roy of Peru, who was expected to embark with her family and wealth;