1786. On the beaches are great numbers of geefe and ducks, but much
Jjiiiiary. ^ anp 0f a different fpecies from our’s : they are pretty tame,
and eafily run down. Our people were greatly elated on feeing
them, imagining they fhould live luxurioufly during our ftay j but
here they were grievoufly difappointed, for both geefe and ducks
eat exceedingly rank and fifhy, owing, no doubt, to their con-
ftantly feeding on marine produftions ; fo that they foon grew
heartily tired of them as food, though the exercife of running them
down was both agreeable and healthy.
Befides thefe, here are various other kinds of the feathered tribe,
the principal o f which are the Port Egmont hen, (called the fkua-
gull by Pennant) and the albatrofs. Pennant diftingOiflies the
ipecies found here by the name of the wandering albatrofs, though
at what time of the year they migrate I cannot fay : however, I
am certain that this is the time of their incubation, as I faw feveral
hundreds of them Petting on their nefts, and great numbers of
young fcarcely fledged. The Port Egmont hen is a very ravenous
bird, fomething like a hawk, only larger j they are very numerous
here j indeed fo are many other kinds, though it is not in my
power to particularize them. I fhall, therefore, conclude this
article with obferving, that the only bird we caught here, which
eat without any rank fifhy tafte, is called by failors a feapie : this
bird is not web-footed, but has claws much like our fowls, and fub-
fifts chiefly on worms, &c. feldom or never going far from the lea-
fide.
Our people frequently attempted to catch fifh, but were always
difappointed, fo that we began to conclude thefe illands were not
bleffed with that capital part of the creation ; but Captain Hufley
making us a prefent of fome fine mullet, convinced us of our mif-
2 take.
take. It feems thefe are almofl: the only kind of filh found here, 1786.
and they often caught them in large quantities. On many of the Janmr>;
beaches are large beds of mufcles and limputs, and various other
marine productions, fome of which ferve as food for the penguins,
geefe, &c. &c. indeed there is no doubt but every one of them has
its ufes, as we are well affured, that the Almighty Creator of the
Univerfe made nothing in vain.
I have endeavoured to take fome notice of every thing that has
come within my obfervation; and thou muff attribute my not
giving thee a better account of this place not only to want of
opportunity, but to a much worfe, viz. a want of ability.
Our bufinefs is all compleated, and every thing in readinefs for
us to put to fea, fo that the firfl: fair wind carries us from this
place, in order to double Cape Horn, that place fo muth dreaded
by many adventurers in the voyage of matrimony, and on which
numbers of them founder : however, it is to be hoped this will
never be the fortune o f thine, Sec.
W . B.
Falkland’s Islands, ?
22d January. |
L E T T E R