cked up a bush, full of
red berries, like those of the hawthorn, and the carcass of a
singular-looking land-animal. It was three feet in length, and but six
inches in height, with four very short legs, the feet armed with long
claws of a brilliant scarlet, and resembling coral in substance. The
body was covered with a straight silky hair, perfectly white. The tail
was peaked like that of a rat, and about a foot and a half long. The
head resembled a cat's, with the exception of the ears--these were
flopped like the ears of a dog. The teeth were of the same brilliant
scarlet as the claws.

January 19.--To-day, being in latitude 83 degrees 20', longitude 43
degrees 5' W. (the sea being of an extraordinarily dark colour), we
again saw land from the masthead, and, upon a closer scrutiny, found it
to be one of a group of very large islands. The shore was precipitous,
and the interior seemed to be well wooded, a circumstance which
occasioned us great joy. In about four hours from our first discovering
the land we came to anchor in ten fathoms, sandy bottom, a league from
the coast, as a high surf, with strong ripples here and there, rendered
a nearer approach of doubtful expediency. The two largest boats were
now ordered out, and a party, well armed (among whom were Peters and
myself), proceeded to look for an opening in the reef which appeared to
encircle the island. After searching about for some time, we discovered
an inlet, which we were entering, when we saw four large canoes put off
from the shore, filled with men who seemed to be well armed. We waited
for them to come up, and, as they moved with great rapidity, they were
soon within hail. Captain Guy now held up a white handkerchief on the
blade of an oar, when the strangers made a full stop, and commenced
a loud jabbering all at once, intermingled with occasional shouts, in
which we could distinguish the words Anamoo-moo! and Lama-Lama! They
continued this for at least half an hour, during which we had a good
opportunity of observing their appearance.

In the four canoes, which might have been fifty feet long and five
broad, there were a hundred and ten savages in all. They were about the
ordinary stature of Europeans, but of a more muscular and brawny frame.
Their complexion a jet black, with thick and long woolly hair. They were
clothed in skins of an unknown black animal, shaggy and silky, and made
to fit the body with some degree of skill, the hair being inside,