an hole, being ſo contrived, as to admit its rays through its daily courſe. The ſhell is perfectly ſmooth, and when highly poliſhed, receives a beautiful and brilliant black.
We ſaw but few ſeals on the beach, either of the hairy or furry ſpecies. This circumſtance, however, might be occaſioned, by its not being the ſeaſon for whelping; as thoſe, which were killed by us, had ſome time to go with young; but a few hundreds of them, might at any time be collected without difficulty, and form, no inconſiderable addition, to the profits of a voyage.
Dampier mentions, that there is plenty of ſalt to be obtained here, at this ſeaſon, but I could not find any; though that article does not appear to be abſolutely neceſſary; as the ſkins will be more profitable, by drying and cleaning them, and then taking them to a China market; as I managed with the otter-ſkins, which I collected in a former voyage.
The rocks are covered with crabs, and there are alſo a few ſmall ſhells and winkles. A large quantity of dead ſhells of various kinds, were waſhed upon the beach; all of which were familiar to me; among the reſt, were the ſhells of large cray-fiſh, but we never caught any of them alive.