The women and children, as before obferved, remained
in their canoes. Thefe were made of bark ; and in each
was a fire, over which the poor creatures huddled them-
felves. I cannot fuppofe that they carry a fire in their
canoes for this purpofe only; but rather that it may be
always ready to remove afliore wherever they land; for
let their method of obtaining fire be what it may, they
cannot be always fure of finding dry fuel that will kindle
from a fpark. They likewife carry in their canoes large
fieal hides, which, I judged, were to fhelter them when at
fea, and to ferve as covering to their huts on fhore; and oc-
cafionally to be ufed for fails.
They all retired before dinner, and did not wait to partake
of our Chriftmas cheer. Indeed, I believe no one invited
them, and for good reafons; for their dirty perfoils,
and the flench they carried about them, were enough to
fpoil the appetite of any European; and that would have
been a real difappointment, as we had not experienced fuch
fare for fome time. Roaft and boiled geefe,' goofe-pye,
&c. was a treat little known to us ; and we had yet fome
Madeira wine left, which was the only article of our pro-
vifion that was mended by keeping. So that our friends;
in England .did not, perhaps, celebrate Chriftmas more
cheerfully than we did.
.Monday 26. On the 26th, little wind next to a calm, and fair weather,
except in the morning, when we had fome fhowers of
rain. In the evening, when it was cold, the natives made
us another vifit; and it being diftrefling to fee them ftand
trembling and naked on the deck, I could do no lefs than
jjive them fome baize and old canvas to cover themfelves.
Having already completed our water, on the 27th I or- D >774.
der.ed the wood, tent, and obfervatory to be got on board; 1__,— ■>
and, as this was work for the day, a party of us went in two Tfe tla)' 27'
boats to fhoot geefe, the weather being fine and pleafant.
We proceeded round by the fotlth fide of Goofe Ifland, and
picked up in all thirty-one. On the eaft fide of the ifland,
to the north of the eaft point, is good anchorage, in feven-
teen fathoms water, where it is entirely land-locked. This
is a good place for fhips to lie in that are bound to the
Weft. On the north fide of this ifle, I obferved three fine
coves, in which were both wood and water; but it being
near night, I had no time to found them; though I doubt
not, there is anchorage. The way to come at them is by
the weft end of the ifland.
When I returned on board, I found every thing got off the
fhore, and the launch in ; fo that we now only waited for a
wind to put to fea. The feftival, which we celebrated at
this place, occafioned my giving it the name of Chriftmas
Sound. The entrance, which is three leagues wide, is fituated
in the latitude of ss°'z7' S., longitude .yd° 16' Weft ; and in
the direction of N. 37° Weft from St. Ildefonfo Ifles, diftant
ten leagues. Thefe ifles are the beft landmark for finding
the found. York Minfter, which is the only remarkable land
about it, will hardly be-known by a ftranger, from any de-
fcription that can be given of it, becaufe it alters its appearance
according to the different fituations it is viewed from.
Befides the black rock, which lies off the.end of Shag Ifland,
there is another about midway between this and the Eaft
fhore. A copious defcription of this found is unneceffary,
as few would be benefited by it. The fketch which accompanies
this journal will be a fufficient guide for fuch fhips
Von. II. B b as