Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/231

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Chap. VI.]
ANIMALS LANDED.
151
1840

was considered well-flavoured, though by no means equal to that of our own well-fed pigs.

In order to increase the stock of useful animals, I directed a ram and two ewes, which we had brought from Hobart Town in the Erebus for the purpose, to be landed on the western side of the harbour; and a ram and two ewes brought by the Terror were taken several miles inland to the southward. Besides these were landed from our private stores some pigs, poultry, and rabbits. These last, together with a quantity of cabbage, turnip, mustard and cress, radish, and other seeds, were sent to me by Mr. Anstey, of Hobart Town, as well as a pair of goats, but one of them unfortunately died the day before we arrived at the Aucklands. Some seeds of each kind were sown in the small place we had cleared; and a great many gooseberry and currant bushes, and raspberry and strawberry plants, with which Sir John Franklin had directed us to be supplied from the Government garden, were distributed over various parts of the island by Dr. Hooker, and I have no doubt will for the most part thrive, and may hereafter prove a benefit to vessels calling there. The hens had formed nests in well-concealed situations, and had laid several eggs before we left the place. We found some small roots of potatoes and some plants of Siberian kale that had been left by some of our predecessors, and we planted some more of the former.

Whilst the magnetic observations were being