considerable distance, except in turning or changing their altitude, which they effect by altering the position of their wings. A flock of them was swimming off Eddystone Point. In the course of the forenoon we dropped anchor in 13 fathoms water, under Swan Island, in Banks's Strait, to avoid drifting back with the strong tide. To the south we had the low sandy shore of Cape Portland, with low woody and grassy hills further distant; and to the north, Clarkes Island, and Cape Barren Island, with its lofty peaks.
The superstition of sailors often leads them to attribute a tedious voyage to having some unlucky person in the vessel. On hearing one of them remark, that we must have some Jonah on board, I took occasion to observe, that it would be well if we had not many worse than Jonah; for he was remarkable for disobedience to the Lord in one instance, but I feared, that in our company, there were those who were disobedient in many.—There is little ear for religious instruction, but no profession to despise it. I have been much restrained in mind in regard to expression on religious subjects, and have felt the force of the declaration "Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty;" the reverse of which is also true. Here, there is a want of regard for this Spirit, and little ear to hear. Nevertheless there are two individuals on board, who say little, but spend much of their time in reading the Bible and hymns, whom we look upon with some comfort. The wreck of a brig that was lately lost, it is said, in consequence of drunkenness, was still lying on Swan Island.
As soon as the tide served, we again made sail; and passing the west end of Clarkes Island, came safely to anchor in Horse-shoe Bay, under the east shore of Preservation Island.
8th. Early in the morning, five Pelicans and some Cape Barren Geese, were upon the beach of Preservation, not far from two huts belonging to James Munro, an old sealer, who, with a native black woman named Jumbo, is the only permanent resident on the Island. We went on shore and paid them a visit, and had an interview also with three
