making a flat-bottomed boat out of the wreck,
and in that frail machine ventured to try to
cross to this island; but these brave fellows
were never seen or heard of more!
Still not despairing, those who remained
constructed another machine, and another
party volunteered to make the attempt to
reach some inhabited spot; and the efforts of
these intrepid seamen were crowned with success.
They brought their frail bark safe into
Falmouth Bay, and had the happiness of seeing
the houses of the settlement, though quite
by chance, as they were not aware that any
English were living here. Mr. Glass and his
men immediately prepared their whale-boat,
and returned with one man for a guide ; and
after several dangerous trips, succeeded in
rescuing the whole party from their perilous
situation; after three months’ residence with
Glass and his people, they obtained a passage
to the Cape, in a brig which fortunately
touched here from Buenos Ayres, all
but White and his wife, who chose to remain
here. Thus were the settlers the happy means
of rescuing forty persons from one of the rh'ost
dreadful situations that it is possible for human
beings to be placed in !
When the first settlers arrived here, they
brought with them several cats; some of
which unfortunately escaped into the bushes,
and have increased so rapidly, that they have
become quite a nuisance. Poultry had run
wild, and the climate was so congenial, that
they multiplied prodigiously, and were to be
found ih all parts of the island in abundance ;
but since the cats have been introduced, the
poor fowls disappear rapidly. Indeed, these
wild cats come so near the settlement as to
attack and carry off the domestic poultry.
I was out a few mornings ago, when the dogs
caught one upon the beach. The nature
and appearance of the animal seemed quite
changed; all the characteristics of the domestic
cat were gone: it was fierce, bold, and
strong ; and stood battle some time, against
four gOod dogs, before it was killed.
There is an abundance of goats on the sides
of the mountains, but too shy and swift of