the works of edgar allan poe-3-第32章

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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　sur