we discovered land on the lee bow, which I
considered to be the uninhabited Island of New Georgia; but as we
approached it, we thought that we perceived people on the beach, and
when within five miles we could plainly distinguish that they were
soldiers in their uniforms, ranged up, rank and file. The colour of
their clothes could not be made out with the glass, but it was easy to
be distinguished that they had yellow facings; from which I inferred
that they were our enemies the English. "Peste!" thought I, "is it
possible that these grasping islanders have made a settlement on this
place? Where will they go to next?" The different companies appeared to
be from one to two dozen in number; sometimes they stood quite still, at
others they walked a little way on the beach; but they constantly
adhered to their rank-and-file position, and as I could not perceive
that they had any muskets in their hands, I inferred that they were
merely practising the marching evolutions. No houses or fortifications
were distinguishable, and I determined to run the ship nearer in, that I
might observe their motions. I did so, and when within two miles, I
again rounded to, and putting my eye to the glass, perceived to my
astonishment that a whole regiment of them ran into the surf, and
reappeared on the outside of it, in the form of aquatic birds, swimming
and diving in every direction. I now began to suspect, that it was an
enchanted island, and not forgetting the lesson of the Golden Fountain,
I made all sail, and we soon left it out of sight astern. I think it
right to state to your highness, that on mentioning this circumstance to
an Englishman, who had been employed in the spermaceti whale fishery, he
asserted that they really were birds, called Patagonian penguins, who
had often deceived others by their martial appearance. He stated that
they had no wings, but only flappers, and when on shore, invariably
stood upright like men in ranks--that they were about three or four feet
high when in this posture, and had two broad yellow streaks on each side
of their necks. How far his assertions were true I do not know, for the
people of that country, who have doubled the Cape, consider themselves
entitled to tell any falsehoods which they think proper, and to shoot
you if you venture to express a doubt as to their veracity; one of my
chief reasons for disliking the English is, that they are such
abominable liars.

We now steered more to the south