The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. IV. Being the Second of the Second Voyage.Cook, James
History
The Three Voyages of Captain Cook Round the World. Vol. IV. Being the Second of the Second Voyage.
Cook, James
Cook, James, 1728-1779 -- Travel; Explorers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Voyages around the world -- History -- 18th century
It is amazing to see how the different animals, which inhabit this
little spot, are mutually reconciled. They seem to have entered into a
league not to disturb each other’s tranquillity. The sea-lions occupy
most of the sea-coast; the sea-bears take up their abode in the isle;
the shags have post in the highest cliffs; the penguins fix their
quarters where there is the most easy communication to and from the sea;
and the other birds chuse more retired places. We have seen all these
animals mix together, like domestic cattle and poultry in a farm-yard,
without one attempting to molest the other. Nay, I have often observed
the eagles and vultures sitting on the hillocks among the shags, without
the latter, either young or old, being disturbed at their presence. It
may be asked how these birds of prey live? I suppose, on the carcasses
of seals and birds which die by various causes; and probably not few, as
they are so numerous.
This very imperfect account is written more with a view to assist my own
memory, than to give information to others. I am neither a botanist nor
a naturalist; and have not words to describe the productions of nature,
either in the one branch of knowledge or the other.
CHAP. V.
PROCEEDINGS AFTER LEAVING STATEN ISLAND, WITH AN ACCOUNT OF THE
DISCOVERY OF THE ISLE OF GEORGIA, AND A DESCRIPTION OF IT.
Having left the land in the evening of the 3d, as before mentioned, we
saw it again next morning, at three o’clock, bearing W. Wind continued
to blow a steady fresh breeze till six P. M. when it shifted in a heavy
squall to S. W. which came so suddenly upon us, that we had not time to
take in the sails, and was the occasion of carrying away a top-gallant
mast, a studding-sail boom, and a fore studding-sail. The squall ended
in a heavy shower of rain, but the wind remained at S. W. Our course was
S. E. with a view of discovering that extensive coast, laid down by Mr.
Dalrymple in his chart, in which is the Gulph of St. Sebastian. I
designed to make the western point of that gulph, in order to have all
the other parts before me. Indeed, I had some doubt of the existence of
such a coast; and this appeared to me the best route for clearing it up,
and for exploring the southern part of this ocean.
On the 5th, fresh gales, and wet and cloudy weather. At noon observed in
57° 9ʹ, longitude made from Cape Saint John, 5° 2ʹ E. At six o’clock,
P. M. being in the latitude 57° 21ʹ, and in longitude 57° 45ʹ W., the
variation was 21° 28ʹ E.
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