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Penguins.
An. 1684
fmall Channel between, fit for Boats only; and fe- veral Rocks lying on the North fide of the Ilands, a little way from fhore. There is a fmall Cove or Sandy Bay fheltered from the Winds, at the Weft end of the Eaftermoft Iland; where Ships may Careen: The reft of the fhore, as well round the 2 Ilands as between them, is a Rocky Coaft, confifting of fmall Cliffs. Within Land they are both of them partly Rocky, and partly Sandy, Barren, without any frefh Water, Tree, Shrub, Grafs, or Herbs; or any Land Animals (for the Seals and Sea-Lyons come ashore here) but Fowls; Of which there are great multitudes; as Boobies; but mofily Penguins, which I have feen plentifully all over the South Seas, on the Coaft of Newfoundland, and of the Cape of Good Hope. They are a Sea Fowl, about as big as a Duck, and fuch Feet; but a fharp Bill, feeding on Fifh: They do not fly but flutter, having rather ftumps like a young Goflins, than Wings: And thefe are inftead of Fins to them in the Water. Their Feathers are Downy. Their flefh is but or- dinary food; but their Eggs are good Meat. There is another fort of fmall black Fowl, that make holes in the Sand for their Night habitations, whofe flefh is good fweet meat: I never faw any of them but here, and at John Fernandos.
There is good riding between the Eaftermoft Iland and the Rocks, in 10, 12, or 14 fathom; for the wind is commonly at S. or S. S. E. and the Eaftermoft Iland lying Eaft and Weft fhelters that Road.
Here we fcrubb'd our Ships, and being in a readi- nefs to fail, the Prifoners were Examined; to know if any of them could conduct us to fome Town where we might make fome attempt: For they had before informed us that we were defcried by the Spaniards and by that we knew that they would fend no fhips by Sea fo long as we were here. Many Towns