inner. I observed that,
as before, the water on the other side of the island was quite smooth,
compared to what it was on the side where I resided. It was, in fact,
from the prevailing winds during the year, the lee side of the island.
Having rested myself sufficiently, I commenced my descent, which I
accomplished in little less time than it took me to ascend from the
other side. As I neared the rocks by the shore, I thought I perceived
something occasionally moving about on them. I was not mistaken, for as
I came closer, I found that there were several large animals lying on
the rocks, and occasionally dropping into the sea close to them.

The sight of anything living was to me of great interest. I determined
to get nearer, and ascertain what animals they were. At last, by
creeping along from rock to rock, I arrived to within forty yards of
them. I recollected some animals of the same shape in my book of
Natural History, which, fortunately, I had with me in the duck frock,
and sitting down behind the rock, I pulled it out, and turned over the
pages until I came to a print which exactly answered to their
appearance. It was the Seal. Having satisfied myself on that point, I
read the history of the animal, and found that it was easily tamed, and
very affectionate when taken young, and also might be easily killed by a
blow on the nose. These, at least, were for me the two most important
pieces of information. It occurred to me that it would be very pleasant
to have a young seal for a playmate (for the gannets, after all, were
not very intelligent), and I resolved to obtain one if I could. I put
down my duck frock with my provisions behind the rock, and taking my axe
in my hand, I cautiously advanced to where the animals lay. There were
about twenty of them all together on one rock, but they were all large,
and seemed to be about five or six feet long. I could not see a small
one anywhere, so I walked in behind the rocks further to the right,
towards another rock, where I saw another batch of them lying. As I
neared them, I saw by herself, a seal with a young one by her side, not
more than two feet long. This was what I wanted. They lay at some
distance from the water, upon a low rock. I watched them for some time,
and was much amused at the prattling which passed between the old and
the young one. I thought that to obtain the young one, I must of course
kill the old one, for I perceived that it had large