The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware advertiser., 1827-01-04

land them IN the bTaZllS.
Nothing in the way of supplies having
been left for poor Barnard and his four COM
panions, of which even the captors of his
ship ought have thought, he was forced to
consider how they were to subsist; and re-
collecting that he had planted a few potatoes,
they directed their attention to them, and in
the course of the second season, obtained
serviceable supply. They had dog which
now and then caught pig; and the eggs of
the albatross, which were stored at the prop
er season, with potatoes, formed substitute
for bread; and the skins Of the seals for
clothes. They built house OF stone, still
remaining on the island, which was strong
enough to withstand the storms of wiRter,
and they might have been comparatively
happy, but that they were cut off from their
relations and friends, without any immediate
prospect of being removed from the island.
To add to the misfortunes of Captain
Barnard in being separated from his wife
and children, his companions. over whom he
exercised no authority. but merely dictated
what he considered was for their mutual adj
vantage, became impatient even of this
mild controul, took an opportunity to steal
the boat, and he was left on the island alone.
After being thus entirely abandoned, he
spent the time in preparing clothes from
the skin of the seal, and in collecting food
tor winter. Once or twice day he used to
ascend hill, from which there was wide
prospect of the ocean, to see if any vessel
approached, but always retired disappoint-
ed and forlorn--no ship was to be observed.
The four sailors, in the meanwhile, having
experienced their own inability to provide
properly for themselves, returned to him afs
ter an absence Of some months.
He still found some difficulty in preserv-
ing peace among his companions; indeed,
one of them had planned his death, but for
tunately it was discovered in time to be pre-
vented. He placed this man alone with some
provisions, ON small island in Quaker har-
bour, and in the course of three weeks, so
great change was made on his mind, that
when Captain Barnard took him off, he was
worn down with reflection on his crimes,
and truly penitent.
They were now attentive to the advice Of
their commander, and the above mentioned
offender became truly religious and exem-
plary in his behaviour. In this way they
continued to live, occasionally visiting the
neghboring island in search of provisions,
till the end of two years when they were TAX =
en- off in the month of December, 1915, by
an English whaler, bound for the Pacific.
Captain Barnard informed me, that British
man of war had been sent expressly from
Rio Janeiro, to take them off, but by some
accident the vessel. though at the islands.
did not fall IN with them.
Captain Weddell thus describes the PEN
gums, which abound in great numbers in
South Georgia, an island east of Cape Horn.
No land quadrupeds are found here; birds
and amphibious animals are the only inhab-
tants. Of the bird tribe, the king penguin
is the most worthy of notice. The penguns
Cor. as they ought properly to be called, pir-
gums, the name being evidently derived
from the Latin word hinguedo. on account
of its fatness) are OF very gregarious ma
ture. They go in large hocks along the shore,
erect, and with waddling gait. When seen
through hazy atmosphere, they may not
be inaptly mistaken for a body of men--and
indeed, Sir John Marlborough has whimsic-
ally likened them to 'little children stand
ing up in white aprons" These he describes,
however, were avery diminutive species in
comparison with the king penguin, the bird
to which l refer.
In pride these birds are not surpassed even
by the peacock, to which in beanty of plu-
mage they are indeed very little inferior as.
may be seen in our principal museums.
During the time of moulting, they seem to
repel each other with disgust, on account Of
the ragged state of their coats; but as they
arrived at the maximum of splendour, they
re-assemble; and no one who has not COM
plcted his plumase, is allowed to enter the
community. They frequently looking down
their front and Sides in order to contemplate
the perfection .of their exterior brilliancy,
and to remove ANY speck which might sully
it, rs truly amazing to All observer.
About the BEGINNING of January they pair,
and lay their neggs During the 6ime of
Matching, the fnale' is remarkably assidu-
ous> so that wltsn tie hen has occasion to go
off I'd feed and Yist;the egg is transported
to hiR, which is a61k'by placing their toes
together, and folling'it from one to the other.
using their bessks q, place it properly. As
they have no nesk,itfs to be remarked, that
the esq is carrieT between the tail and legs,
where the feuals iin L, particular, has cavi-
ty for thepurposse; -, ~.
The hen keeps eharge,of her young near
" twelve laonth, during which time they
change and complete their plumagc; and
in teaching them to swim the mother has
frequently to use some artiticc; for when the
Young one refuses to take the water. she en-
tccs it to tlle side of a'rock, and cunningly
pushes it inj and this is repeated until it
takes the seq ofiss own accord. There are
three other. kinds, of. penguins. all of them
nearly OF the same size, but little more than
half the bipDess of that which have describ-