The cause of this spot being so peculiarly
dangerous to shipping at anchor is the swell
that sets in before the wind, and which was
the occasion of the loss of " The Julia.” The
night had been perfectly calm ; but at two
o’clock in the morning, heavy rollers set in,
and she was driven by them into the bay, and,
it being quite dark, she was dashed upon a
rock: she split in two, and nearly “ all hands ”
perished.
April 24th. — To-day we found the body
of a man named Smith, amongst some bushes,
who had been missing nearly two months.
The poor fellow had been in a state of derangement,
and, having wandered away from
the houses, lost himself, probably, among the
high grass, and there perished. The body
was in a sad putrid state ; and we had to bury
it on the spot where it was found. I read the
funeral service over i t ; all the settlers being
present, and behaving in the most serious
and respectful manner during the ceremony.
The fate of this poor man was peculiarly distressing,
and furnishes another instance in
proof of what a hazardous and desperate profession
the South Sea fishery is. I understood
that he formerly commanded a large ship on
that service from London, which proved uncommonly
successful. The owners, delighted
with his good luck (for luck it was), again
sent him out on a similar speculation : but his
good fortune forsook him ; and he returned,
after an unsuccessful cruize of three years, to
his employers. In consequence, he was turned
off; could not obtain any employment; and,
after experiencing every sort of misery in
London, was finally obliged to embark as
fourth mate, in a vessel which he himself used
formerly to command. It was stationed off
these islands$ and Glass frequently saw him.
They went from hence to South Georgia, to
kill sea elephants; and, in that miserable high
southern latitude, they put together the frame
of a vessel, which they had brought out from
England for that purpose j and the command
of it was given to poor Smith. These
vessels are called shallops; and are intended
to accompany the large ships, and bring off
the blubber collected on the beach. They
occasionally make short trips ; but sometimes