A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 17 eBook

Robert Kerr (writer)
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 787 pages of information about A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 17.

A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 17 eBook

Robert Kerr (writer)
This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 787 pages of information about A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 17.

Sunday, little wind at W. with rain; at three this morning abreast of Cape Munday; at six abreast of Cape de Quod, opposite to which, on the south shore, saw a smoke, on which we went ashore to the Indians, who came out on a point of land, at the entrance of a cove, hollowing and crying, Bona!  Bona! endeavouring to make us understand they were our friends; when ashore, we traded with them for two dogs, three brant geese, and some seal, which supply was very acceptable to us; we supped on the dogs, and thought them equal in goodness to the best mutton in England.  We took from the Indians a canoe, made of the bark of trees, but soon towed her under water, and were obliged to cut her loose; steered N.E. by E. At eight o’clock abreast of St Jerom’s Sound; at twelve abreast of Royal Island.

The Indians we saw in the Streights of Magellan are people of a middle stature, and well shaped, their complexion of a tawny olive colour, their hair exceeding black, but not very long, they have round faces and small noses, their eyes little and black, their teeth are smooth and even, and close set, of an incomparable whiteness, they are very active in body, and run with a surprising agility, they wear on their heads white feathered caps, their bodies are covered with the skins of seals and guinacoes.  The women, as soon as they saw us, fled into the woods, so that we can give no description of them.

Monday the 7th, fresh gales at W.N.W. and fine weather; at six this morning abreast of Cape Forward, steered N. by E. At nine abreast of Port Famine, at twelve at noon put in at Freshwater bay, and filled one cask of water, having none aboard; at one o’clock put out again, steered N. by E. expecting plenty of wood and water at Elizabeth’s Island; at nine at night passed by Sandy Point, it bore S.S.E. and the island St George E.N.E. distant three leagues.

Tuesday the 8th, at four this morning, being calm, weighed, and rowed towards Elizabeth’s Island, it bearing W.N.W.  At four in the afternoon anchored off the northmost in eight fathom water, fine sand, about half a cable’s length from the shore put the vessel in, and landed some people to see for wood and water.  In the evening the people came aboard, having been all over the island in search of wood and water, but found none; here indeed we found shaggs and sea-gulls in great numbers, it being breeding time, we got a vast quantity of their eggs, most of them having young ones in the shell:  However, we beat them up all together, with a little flour, and made a very rich pudding.  Elizabeth’s Island is a beautiful spot of ground to appearance, with very good pasture, but it is entirely barren of any thing for the support of man.  This day John Turner, marine, perished for want of food.

Wednesday the 9th, at four this morning weighed, and steered E.N.E. for the Narrows, with the wind at S.S.W., when abreast ef the Sweepstakes Foreland, steered S.S.E. on purpose to look for water; after going along shore about six leagues into a deep bay, we saw a fine delightful country:  Here we saw the guianacoes in great numbers, ten or twelve in a drove; they are to be seen in such droves all along the shore for several leagues.

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A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume 17 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.