The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym

Chapter 14

THE _Jane Guy_ was a fine-looking topsail schooner of a hundred

and eighty tons burden. She was unusually sharp in the bows, and on a

wind, in moderate weather, the fastest sailer I have ever seen. Her

qualities, however, as a rough sea-boat, were not so good, and her

draught of water was by far too great for the trade to which she was

destined. For this peculiar service, a larger vessel, and one of a

light proportionate draught, is desirable- say a vessel of from three

hundred to three hundred and fifty tons. She should be bark-rigged,

and in other respects of a different construction from the usual

South Sea ships. It is absolutely necessary that she should be well

armed. She should have, say ten or twelve twelve-pound carronades,

and two or three long twelves, with brass blunderbusses, and

water-tight arm-chests for each top. Her anchors and cables should be

of far greater strength than is required for any other species of

trade, and, above all, her crew should be numerous and efficient- not

less, for such a vessel as I have described, than fifty or sixty

able-bodied men. The Jane Guy had a crew of thirty-five, all able

seamen, besides the captain and mate, but she was not altogether as

well armed or otherwise equipped, as a navigator acquainted with the

difficulties and dangers of the trade could have desired.

Captain Guy was a gentleman of great urbanity of manner, and of

considerable experience in the southern traffic, to which he had

devoted a great portion of his life. He was deficient, however, in

energy, and, consequently, in that spirit of enterprise which is here

so absolutely requisite. He was part owner of the vessel in which he

sailed, and was invested with discretionary powers to cruise in the

South Seas for any cargo which might come most readily to hand. He

had on board, as usual in such voyages, beads, looking-glasses,

tinder-works, axes, hatchets, saws, adzes, planes, chisels, gouges,

gimlets, files, spokeshaves, rasps, hammers, nails, knives, scissors,

razors, needles, thread, crockery-ware, calico, trinkets, and other

similar articles.

The schooner sailed from Liverpool on the tenth of July, crossed

the Tropic of Cancer on the twenty-fifth, in longitude twenty degrees

west, and reached Sal, one of the Cape Verd islands, on the

twenty-ninth, where she took in salt and other necessaries for the

voyage. On the third of August, she left the Cape Verds and steered

southwest, stretching over toward the coast of Brazil, so as to cross

the equator between the meridians of twenty-eight and thirty degrees

west longitude. This is the course usually taken by vessels bound

from Europe to the Cape of Good Hope, or by that route to the East

Indies. By proceeding thus they avoid the calms and strong contrary

currents which continually prevail on the coast of Guinea, while, in

the end, it is found to be the shortest track, as westerly winds are

never wanting afterward by which to reach the Cape. It was Captain

Guy's intention to make his first stoppage at Kerguelen's Land- I

hardly know for what reason. On the day we were picked up the

schooner was off Cape St. Roque, in longitude thirty-one degrees

west; so that, when found, we had drifted probably, from north to

south, _not less than five-and-twenty degrees!_

On board the Jane Guy we were treated with all the kindness our

distressed situation demanded. In about a fortnight, during which

time we continued steering to the southeast, with gentle breezes and

fine weather, both Peters and myself recovered entirely from the

effects of our late privation and dreadful sufferings, and we began

to remember what had passed rather as a frightful dream from which we

had been happily awakened, than as events which had taken place in

sober and naked reality. I have since found that this species of

partial oblivion is usually brought about by sudden transition,

whether from joy to sorrow or from sorrow to joy- the degree of

forgetfulness being proportioned to the degree of difference in the

exchange. Thus, in my own case, I now feel it impossible to realize

the full extent of the misery which I endured during the days spent

upon the hulk. The incidents are remembered, but not the feelings

which the incidents elicited at the time of their occurrence. I only

know, that when they did occur, I then thought human nature could

sustain nothing more of agony.

We continued our voyage for some weeks without any incidents of

greater moment than the occasional meeting with whaling-ships, and

more frequently with the black or right whale, so called in

contradistinction to the spermaceti. These, however, were chiefly

found south of the twenty-fifth parallel. On the sixteenth of

September, being in the vicinity of the Cape of Good Hope, the

schooner encountered her first gale of any violence since leaving

Liverpool. In this neighborhood, but more frequently to the south and

east of the promontory (we were to the westward), navigators have

often to contend with storms from the northward, which rage with

great fury. They always bring with them a heavy sea, and one of their

most dangerous features is the instantaneous chopping round of the

wind, an occurrence almost certain to take place during the greatest

force of the gale. A perfect hurricane will be blowing at one moment

from the northward or northeast, and in the next not a breath of wind

will be felt in that direction, while from the southwest it will come

out all at once with a violence almost inconceivable. A bright spot

to the southward is the sure forerunner of the change, and vessels

are thus enabled to take the proper precautions.

It was about six in the morning when the blow came on with a

white squall, and, as usual, from the northward. By eight it had

increased very much, and brought down upon us one of the most

tremendous seas I had then ever beheld. Every thing had been made as

snug as possible, but the schooner laboured excessively, and gave

evidence of her bad qualities as a seaboat, pitching her forecastle

under at every plunge and with the greatest difficulty struggling up

from one wave before she was buried in another. Just before sunset

the bright spot for which we had been on the look-out made its

appearance in the southwest, and in an hour afterward we perceived

the little headsail we carried flapping listlessly against the mast.

In two minutes more, in spite of every preparation, we were hurled on

our beam-ends, as if by magic, and a perfect wilderness of foam made

a clear breach over us as we lay. The blow from the southwest,

however, luckily proved to be nothing more than a squall, and we had

the good fortune to right the vessel without the loss of a spar. A

heavy cross sea gave us great trouble for a few hours after this, but

toward morning we found ourselves in nearly as good condition as

before the gale. Captain Guy considered that he had made an escape

little less than miraculous.

On the thirteenth of October we came in sight of Prince Edward's

Island, in latitude 46 degrees 53' S., longitude 37 degrees 46' E.

Two days afterward we found ourselves near Possession Island, and

presently passed the islands of Crozet, in latitude 42 degrees 59'

S., longitude 48 degrees E. On the eighteenth we made Kerguelen's or

Desolation Island, in the Southern Indian Ocean, and came to anchor

in Christmas Harbour, having four fathoms of water.

This island, or rather group of islands, bears southeast from the

Cape of Good Hope, and is distant therefrom nearly eight hundred

leagues. It was first discovered in 1772, by the Baron de Kergulen,

or Kerguelen, a Frenchman, who, thinking the land to form a portion

of an extensive southern continent carried home information to that

effect, which produced much excitement at the time. The government,

taking the matter up, sent the baron back in the following year for

the purpose of giving his new discovery a critical examination, when

the mistake was discovered. In 1777, Captain Cook fell in with the

same group, and gave to the principal one the name of Desolation

Island, a title which it certainly well deserves. Upon approaching

the land, however, the navigator might be induced to suppose

otherwise, as the sides of most of the hills, from September to

March, are clothed with very brilliant verdure. This deceitful

appearance is caused by a small plant resembling saxifrage, which is

abundant, growing in large patches on a species of crumbling moss.

Besides this plant there is scarcely a sign of vegetation on the

island, if we except some coarse rank grass near the harbor, some

lichen, and a shrub which bears resemblance to a cabbage shooting

into seed, and which has a bitter and acrid taste.

The face of the country is hilly, although none of the hills can

be called lofty. Their tops are perpetually covered with snow. There

are several harbors, of which Christmas Harbour is the most

convenient. It is the first to be met with on the northeast side of

the island after passing Cape Francois, which forms the northern

shore, and, by its peculiar shape, serves to distinguish the harbour.

Its projecting point terminates in a high rock, through which is a

large hole, forming a natural arch. The entrance is in latitude 48

degrees 40' S., longitude 69 degrees 6' E. Passing in here, good

anchorage may be found under the shelter of several small islands,

which form a sufficient protection from all easterly winds.

Proceeding on eastwardly from this anchorage you come to Wasp Bay, at

the head of the harbour. This is a small basin, completely

landlocked, into which you can go with four fathoms, and find

anchorage in from ten to three, hard clay bottom. A ship might lie

here with her best bower ahead all the year round without risk. To

the westward, at the head of Wasp Bay, is a small stream of excellent

water, easily procured.

Some seal of the fur and hair species are still to be found on

Kerguelen's Island, and sea elephants abound. The feathered tribes

are discovered in great numbers. Penguins are very plenty, and of

these there are four different kinds. The royal penguin, so called

from its size and beautiful plumage, is the largest. The upper part

of the body is usually gray, sometimes of a lilac tint; the under

portion of the purest white imaginable. The head is of a glossy and

most brilliant black, the feet also. The chief beauty of plumage,

however, consists in two broad stripes of a gold color, which pass

along from the head to the breast. The bill is long, and either pink

or bright scarlet. These birds walk erect; with a stately carriage.

They carry their heads high with their wings drooping like two arms,

and, as their tails project from their body in a line with the legs,

the resemblance to a human figure is very striking, and would be apt

to deceive the spectator at a casual glance or in the gloom of the

evening. The royal penguins which we met with on Kerguelen's Land

were rather larger than a goose. The other kinds are the macaroni,

the jackass, and the rookery penguin. These are much smaller, less

beautiful in plumage, and different in other respects.

Besides the penguin many other birds are here to be found, among

which may be mentioned sea-hens, blue peterels, teal, ducks, Port

Egmont hens, shags, Cape pigeons, the nelly, sea swallows, terns, sea

gulls, Mother Carey's chickens, Mother Carey's geese, or the great

peterel, and, lastly, the albatross.

The great peterel is as large as the common albatross, and is

carnivorous. It is frequently called the break-bones, or osprey

peterel. They are not at all shy, and, when properly cooked, are

palatable food. In flying they sometimes sail very close to the

surface of the water, with the wings expanded, without appearing to

move them in the least degree, or make any exertion with them

whatever.

The albatross is one of the largest and fiercest of the South Sea

birds. It is of the gull species, and takes its prey on the wing,

never coming on land except for the purpose of breeding. Between this

bird and the penguin the most singular friendship exists. Their nests

are constructed with great uniformity upon a plan concerted between

the two species- that of the albatross being placed in the centre of

a little square formed by the nests of four penguins. Navigators have

agreed in calling an assemblage of such encampments a rookery. These

rookeries have been often described, but as my readers may not all

have seen these descriptions, and as I shall have occasion hereafter

to speak of the penguin and albatross, it will not be amiss to say

something here of their mode of building and living.

When the season for incubation arrives, the birds assemble in vast

numbers, and for some days appear to be deliberating upon the proper

course to be pursued. At length they proceed to action. A level piece

of ground is selected, of suitable extent, usually comprising three

or four acres, and situated as near the sea as possible, being still

beyond its reach. The spot is chosen with reference to its evenness

of surface, and that is preferred which is the least encumbered with

stones. This matter being arranged, the birds proceed, with one

accord, and actuated apparently by one mind, to trace out, with

mathematical accuracy, either a square or other parallelogram, as may

best suit the nature of the ground, and of just sufficient size to

accommodate easily all the birds assembled, and no more- in this

particular seeming determined upon preventing the access of future

stragglers who have not participated in the labor of the encampment.

One side of the place thus marked out runs parallel with the water's

edge, and is left open for ingress or egress.

Having defined the limits of the rookery, the colony now begin to

clear it of every species of rubbish, picking up stone by stone, and

carrying them outside of the lines, and close by them, so as to form

a wall on the three inland sides. Just within this wall a perfectly

level and smooth walk is formed, from six to eight feet wide, and

extending around the encampment- thus serving the purpose of a

general promenade.

The next process is to partition out the whole area into small

squares exactly equal in size. This is done by forming narrow paths,

very smooth, and crossing each other at right angles throughout the

entire extent of the rookery. At each intersection of these paths the

nest of an albatross is constructed, and a penguin's nest in the

centre of each square- thus every penguin is surrounded by four

albatrosses, and each albatross by a like number of penguins. The

penguin's nest consists of a hole in the earth, very shallow, being

only just of sufficient depth to keep her single egg from rolling.

The albatross is somewhat less simple in her arrangements, erecting a

hillock about a foot high and two in diameter. This is made of earth,

seaweed, and shells. On its summit she builds her nest.

The birds take especial care never to leave their nests

unoccupied for an instant during the period of incubation, or,

indeed, until the young progeny are sufficiently strong to take care

of themselves. While the male is absent at sea in search of food, the

female remains on duty, and it is only upon the return of her partner

that she ventures abroad. The eggs are never left uncovered at all --

while one bird leaves the nest the other nestling in by its side.

This precaution is rendered necessary by the thieving propensities

prevalent in the rookery, the inhabitants making no scruple to

purloin each other's eggs at every good opportunity.

Although there are some rookeries in which the penguin and

albatross are the sole population, yet in most of them a variety of

oceanic birds are to be met with, enjoying all the privileges of

citizenship, and scattering their nests here and there, wherever they

can find room, never interfering, however, with the stations of the

larger species. The appearance of such encampments, when seen from a

distance, is exceedingly singular. The whole atmosphere just above

the settlement is darkened with the immense number of the albatross

(mingled with the smaller tribes) which are continually hovering over

it, either going to the ocean or returning home. At the same time a

crowd of penguins are to be observed, some passing to and fro in the

narrow alleys, and some marching with the military strut so peculiar

to them, around the general promenade ground which encircles the

rookery. In short, survey it as we will, nothing can be more

astonishing than the spirit of reflection evinced by these feathered

beings, and nothing surely can be better calculated to elicit

reflection in every well-regulated human intellect.

On the morning after our arrival in Christmas Harbour the chief

mate, Mr. Patterson, took the boats, and (although it was somewhat

early in the season) went in search of seal, leaving the captain and

a young relation of his on a point of barren land to the westward,

they having some business, whose nature I could not ascertain, to

transact in the interior of the island. Captain Guy took with him a

bottle, in which was a sealed letter, and made his way from the point

on which he was set on shore toward one of the highest peaks in the

place. It is probable that his design was to leave the letter on that

height for some vessel which he expected to come after him. As soon

as we lost sight of him we proceeded (Peters and myself being in the

mate's boat) on our cruise around the coast, looking for seal. In

this business we were occupied about three weeks, examining with

great care every nook and corner, not only of Kerguelen's Land, but

of the several small islands in the vicinity. Our labours, however,

were not crowned with any important success. We saw a great many fur

seal, but they were exceedingly shy, and with the greatest exertions,

we could only procure three hundred and fifty skins in all. Sea

elephants were abundant, especially on the western coast of the

mainland, but of these we killed only twenty, and this with great

difficulty. On the smaller islands we discovered a good many of the

hair seal, but did not molest them. We returned to the schooner: on

the eleventh, where we found Captain Guy and his nephew, who gave a

very bad account of the interior, representing it as one of the most

dreary and utterly barren countries in the world. They had remained

two nights on the island, owing to some misunderstanding, on the part

of the second mate, in regard to the sending a jollyboat from the

schooner to take them off.