Dec1 E7M74 B-E I The part of the world which was now in fight had a
very unfavourable afpeft. About three o’clock in the
morning we ran along it, and found it for the greateft part
hidin a thick haze. The parts near us feemed to be fmall
iflands, which though not very high, were however very
black, and almoft entirely barren. Beyond them we faw
fome bróken high lands, which were covered with fnow,
alrnofi to the water’s edge; Great flocks of fhags, fhear-
waters, fkuas, and other water-fowl, in fome meafure made
amends for the defolate appearance of the coaft, as they
gave us great hopes that we fhould meet with refrefhments,
if we could find a harbour. Few countries that we touched
at are fó wretchedly deftitute, as not to- have afforded us
fome fuppl'y of food, either animat or vegetable, by the af-
fiftance of which we made fhift to keep ourfelves free from
a high degree of the fcurvy and other diftempers.
In the afternoon we paffed the- ifland, upon which Cape
Noir is fituated, mentioned- by M. Frezier. The view
which he gives of the land correfponded very well with
what we faw ; and to the N. E. there appeared to be a long
inlet, which is doubtlefs the channel of St. Barbara. In
the Spanifh charts this extremity of Tierra del Euego has
long fince been very accurately laid down as divided into
many iflands and channels, which have been explored,, and
each in particular named, by their early navigators. One
of.
©f the beft charts of this kind accompanies the Spanifh
tranflation of the anonymous account of Mr. Byron’s Voyage
round the World, by Dr. Cafimir Gomez Ortega.
Agreeably to their difcoveries, we found many feparate
iflands, from the place where we made the coaft to Cape
Noir, and fhould perhaps have feen many more, if the weather
had not been very hazy.
We found the land to all appearance much more compact
after palling Cape Noir; and the next morning in
particular, the coaft feemed to be entirely conneded; the
mountains rofe to a much greater height, immediately
from the fea-fide, and were covered with fnow in every
part. The wind gradually leffened, and towards noon we
were entirely becalmed,, having the fineft fun-fhine, and
mild weather. Many forts of water-birds appeared about
us from time to time, and feveral feals alfo fported in the
water. In the afternoon about thirty grampuffes were
feen playing about us, chiefly fwimming in couples. Another
calm fucceeded again the next day,, though we had.
had an eafterly wind during a part of the preceding afternoon.
It was very amufing to us, to meet with mild weather
in the neighbourhood of that tempeftuous cape, of
which the name alone has affrighted- the mariners, ever-
fince lord Anfon’s voyage. The deftrucftion of vulgar prejudices
is of fo much fervice to-fcience, and to mankind ingeneral,
that it cannot fail of giving pleafure, to every one
fenfiblet
* ■’ 74-
Dec EM her.
Monday 19*
Tuefday so?-