A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Vol. 15 | Page 6

shortened
sail to the three top-sails, to wait for clear weather; for the fog was so
thick that we could see no other land than this island. After waiting an
hour, and the weather not clearing, we bore up and hauled round the
east end of the island, for the sake of smooth water and anchorage, if it
should be necessary. In hauling round, we found a strong race of a
current, like unto broken water; but we had no less than nineteen
fathoms. We also saw on the island abundance of seals and birds. This
was a temptation too great for people in our situation to withstand, to

whom fresh provisions of any kind were acceptable; and determined
me to anchor, in order that we might taste of what we now only saw at
a distance. At length, after making a few boards, fishing, as it were, for
the best ground, we anchored in twenty-one fathoms water, a stony
bottom, about a mile from the island, which extended from N. 18° E. to
N. 55° 1/2 W.; and soon after, the weather clearing up, we saw Cape St
John, or the east end of Staten Land, bearing S. 76° E., distant four
leagues. We were sheltered from the south wind by Staten Land, and
from the north wind by the island; the other isles lay to the west, and
secured us from that wind; but beside being open to the N.E. and E., we
also lay exposed to the N.N.W. winds. This might have been avoided
by anchoring more to the west, but I made choice of my situation for
two reasons; first, to be near the island we intended to land upon, and,
secondly, to be able to get to sea with any wind.
After dinner we hoisted out three boats, and landed with a large party
of men; some to kill seals, others to catch or kill birds, fish, or what
came in our way. To find the former it mattered not where we landed,
for the whole shore was covered with them; and by the noise they made
one would have thought the island was stocked with cows and calves.
On landing we found they were a different animal from seals, but in
shape and motion exactly resembling them. We called them lions, on
account of the great resemblance the male has to that beast.[3] Here
were also the same kind of seals which we found in New Zealand,
generally known by the name of sea-bears; at least we gave them that
name.
[Footnote 3: The resemblance had been noticed by earlier voyagers,
and procured for these animals the same name. This is mentioned by
Mr G.F., who refers to Francis Petty in Hackluyt's collection, Sir
Richard Hawkins, Sir John Nasborough and Labbe, in Des Brosses'
Nav. aux Terres Australes. The description which the same gentleman
has given of these remarkable creatures is too interesting (though
Cook's account afterwards given might suffice) to be omitted. "The old
males were, in general, very fat, and measured from ten to twelve feet
in length; the females were more slender, and from six to eight feet
long. The weight of the largest male amounts to 1200 or 1500 lb., for
one of a middle size weighed 550 lb. after the skin, entrails, and
blubber were taken off. The head of the male has really some

resemblance to a lion's head, and the colour is likewise very nearly the
same, being only a darker hue of tawny. The long shaggy hair on the
neck and throat of the male, beginning at the back of the head, bears a
strong resemblance to a mane; and is hard and coarse to the touch; all
the rest of the body is covered with short hairs, which lie very close to
the skin, and form a smooth glossy coat. The lioness is perfectly
smooth all over the body; but both sexes are formed alike with regard
to the feet, or rather fins. Those fins, which originate near the breast,
are large flat pieces of a black coriaceous membrane, which have only
some small indistinct vestiges of nails on their middle. The hinder fins
are rather more like feet, being black membranes divided into five long
toes, with a thin thong, or membrane, projecting far beyond the nails,
which are very small. With these nails, however, we have seen them
scratch all parts of their body. The tail is excessively short, and hid
between the hind feet or fins, which grow close together. The whole
hind quarters are very round, being covered with an amazing quantity
of fat. The noise which all the animals of this kind made together was
various, and sometimes stunned our ears. The old males snort and roar
like mad bulls or lions;