The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1852-01-17
Life on a Desert Island.

A large ship OF the most disheveled and
seedy appearance standing towards Us ftom the
South, signalling that she wants to speak We
lie to, and boat comes on board. II is the Eli
zsbeih whaler, out three years, aud now bound
for the Cape. She had lately touched at tie
Crozets Islands, and taken of three EugIshmen,
wrecked there two years before. They came off
to US in the boat, and their story was as follows
"They made part of the crew Of schooner,
fitted out at the Mauritius, for the whale fishery
Of the south, and which bore up to the Crozets
in search OF water. So heavy WAS the serf that
no boat could be- sent ashe,e, and after TRYING II
around the group for landing place without ei-
feet. they were driven at last to run tie schoon'
er ashore on the smoothest beach they could find,
where shs soon went to pieces. The main body
Of the crew built themselves boat out "a the
timbsrs Of the wreck. and, embarking in her,
were never more heard Of Our three sailors
built themselves hut in a little cove where
they found spring of fresh water, and there
subsis,ed pleasantly enough it appeared for two
years, having abundance Of firewood from the
wreck Of the schooner, and amply supplied with
provisions in the sen animals ard bids with
which the Island abounded, and which were per.
fectly tame and fearless. A diet fpenFuins and
sea lions seemed 10 agree well with them, for
they were uncommonly fat; and though exposed
much to the weather in their Robinson Crusoe
life had the fairest red ard white complexion
ever saw mention this, as there may be some
natural kalydor or amandiue in the air of the
Crozet, which our kowlands and other enterprIs
ing perfumers are trying after in vain. The
three men had remarkable air Of simplicity and
credulous confidence, acquired no doubt by SC
long an association with sea calves, boobies
gulls, DC.
| On inquiring into their mole Of procedure
they tod me that having no firearms. it was ne
cessary to keep on good terms with the other in
habitants and although dead BODY must occa
sonally be seeh about, still their object was tC
battle the coroner Us much as possible. They ac
costed their seals with frankness stealing how
ever. il possible, between the water and them
and being provided with short club, gave non
chaant tap on the nose to some unsuspecting vic
tim, or quietly dividing the jugular vein Of wal
rus, walked away, leaving the bystanders to i'm
agine what accident they pleased In the cast
OF the large penguins, with whom they were il
the habit OF romping for exercise, they danceC
them of to some quiet nook and then privily des
patched them. But the walrus was their piec
de resistance, and supplied them as we'll with oi
for their lamps, as ivory; Of which, and the rcl
feathers Of the large grebe, they had collected
valuable stock IN the spring, they feasted lux
nrionsly, not only upon eggs, bit young abatros
chickens. which attain nearly their full size be-
fore they can fly. These good times they dwcl
upon with much gusto The winter they de
scTbed as very severe. with tremendous gale
and snow storms During the two wears no YES
sci came IN ssht.-A Transport Vtyegs 10 II
Nauritius.