surf. It is unsafe for any other than whale
boats to attempt landing here. On quitting
the boat, I found a road, formed of black lava,
cut down the cliff, along which the islanders
had brought their boat. The cliff is about
fifty feet high, and at its summit there is an
extended plain, reaching To the foot of a
mountain ; and this plain is covered with a
coarse kind of grass, called by the settlers
Tussek, which grows in clusters, and is as
strong as a small reed. Arriving at the village,
which consists of half a dozen houses,
covered with thatch made of this native grass,
I found two women, and a number of children,
who were all equally delighted to see a
stranger amongst them. The houses, and all
around them, had an air of comfort, cleanliness,
and plenty, truly English; and which
was highly gratifying to my feelings, from the
contrast it formed to those I had lately seen
in South America.
They immediately brought me a bowl of
new milk; after which I sat down to dinner
with these hospitable people, and they showed
every possible kindness and attention to me.
In the afternoon the men were all busily employed
getting off the cargo of potatoes.
27th. — The crew were all engaged in
stowing away their fresh freight, while I
passed the time in scrambling round the
rocks, and making sketches.
28th. — So strong a north wind was blowing,
that it was impossible to get off in the
boat; the sloop remained in the offing.
29th. — As the wind had moderated, I prepared
to set off. I had purchased some stock,
which was already placed in the boat, and
they were preparing to launch her, to take
me on board, when the sloop tacked, and
stood out to sea! I concluded she was only
making a long stretch, and waited on the
beach some hours; but she stood quite off to
sea, and I never beheld her more!
I passed several days in the utmost anxiety
respecting the vessel, for the wind was blowing
tremendously. The surf along the beach
exceeded every thing I ever before witnessed,
or could have imagined; and the noise was
almost deafening! The rocks and the beach,
v 3