the works of edgar allan poe-3-第24章

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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。

~~~　End　of　Text　of　Chapter　14　~~~

CHAPTER　15



　　　　ON　the　twelfth　we　made　sail　from　Christmas　Harbour　retracing　our
way　to　the　westward；　and　leaving　Marion's　Island；　one　of　Crozet's
group；　on　the　larboard。　We　afterward　passed　Prince　Edward's　Island；
leaving　it　also　on　our　left；　then；　steering　more　to　the　northward；
made；　in　fifteen　days；　the　islands　of　Tristan　d'Acunha；　in　latitude
37　degrees　8'　S；　longitude　12　degrees　8'　W。

　　　　This　group；　now　so　well　known；　and　which　consists　of　three
circular　islands；　was　first　discovered　by　the　Portuguese；　and　was
visited　afterward　by　the　Dutch　in　1643；　and　by　the　French　in　1767。
The　three　islands　together　form　a　triangle；　and　are　distant　from　each
other　about　ten　miles；　there　being　fine　open　passages　between。　The
land　in　all　of　them　is　very　high；　especially　in　Tristan　d'Acunha；
properly　so　called。　This　is　the　largest　of　the　group；　being　fifteen
miles　in　circumference；　and　so　elevated　that　it　can　be　seen　in　clear
weather　at　the　distance　of　eighty　or　ninety　miles。　A　part　of　the　land
toward　the　north　rises　more　than　a　thousand　feet　perpendicularly　from
the　sea。　A　tableland　at　this　height　extends　back　nearly　to　the　centre
of　the　island；　and　from　this　tableland　arises　a　lofty　cone　like　that
of　Teneriffe。　The　lower　half　of　this　cone　is　clothed　with　trees　of
good　size；　but　the　upper　region　is　barren　rock；　usually　hidden　among
the　clouds；　and　covered　with　snow　during　the　greater　part　of　the
year。　There　are　no　shoals　or　other　dangers　about　the　island；　the
shores　being　remarkably　bold　and　the　water　deep。　On　the　northwestern
coast　is　a　bay；　with　a　beach　of　black　sand　where　a　landing　with　boats
can　be　easily　effected；　provided　there　be　a　southerly　wind。　Plenty　of
excellent　water　may　here　be　readily　procured；　also　cod　and　other　fish
may　be　taken　with　hook　and　line。

　　　　The　next　island　in　point　of　size；　and　the　most　westwardly　of　the
group；　is　that　called　the　Inaccessible。　Its　precise　situation　is　37
degrees　17'　S。　latitude；　longitude　12　degrees　24'　W。　It　is　seven　or
eight　miles　in　circumference；　and　on　all　sides　presents　a　forbidding
and　precipitous　aspect。　Its　top　is　perfectly　flat；　and　the　whole
region　is　sterile；　nothing　growing　upon　it　except　a　few　stunted
shrubs。

　　　　Nightingale　Island；　the　smallest　and　most　southerly；　is　in
latitude　37　degrees　26'　S。；　longitude　12　degrees　12'　W。　Off　its
southern　extremity　is　a　high　ledge　of　rocky　islets；　a　few　also　of　a
similar　appearance　are　seen　to　the　northeast。　The　ground　is　irregular
and　sterile；　and　a　deep　valley　partially　separates　it。

　　　　The　shores　of　these　islands　abound；　in　the　proper　season；　with
sea　lions；　sea　elephants；　the　hair　and　fur　seal；　together　with　a
great　variety　of　oceanic　birds。　Whales　are　also　plenty　in　their
vicinity。　Owing　to　the　ease　with　which　these　various　animals　were
here　formerly　taken；　the　group　has　been　much　visited　since　its
discovery。　The　Dutch　and　French　frequented　it　at　a　very　early　period。
In　1790；　Captain　Patten；　of　the　ship　Industry；　of　Philadelphia；　made
Tristan　d'Acunha；　where　he　remained　seven　months　（from　August；　1790；
to　April；　1791）　for　the　purpose　of　collecting　sealskins。　In　this　time
he　gathered　no　less　than　five　thousand　six　hundred；　and　says　that　he
would　have　had　no　difficulty　in　loading　a　large　ship　with　oil　in
three　weeks。　Upon　his　arrival　he　found　no　quadrupeds；　with　the
exception　of　a　few　wild　goats；　the　island　now　abounds　with　all　our
most　valuable　domestic　animals；　which　have　been　introduced　by
subsequent　navigators。

　　　　I　believe　it　was　not　long　after　Captain　Patten's　visit　that
Captain　Colquhoun；　of　the　American　brig　Betsey；　touched　at　the
largest　of　the　islands　for　the　purpose　of　refreshment。　He　planted
onions；　potatoes；　cabbages；　and　a　great　many　other　vegetables；　an
abundance　of　all　which　is　now　to　be　met　with。

　　　　In　1811；　a　Captain　Haywood；　in　the　Nereus；　visited　Tristan。　He
found　there　three　Americans；　who　were　residing　upon　the　island　to
prepare　sealskins　and　oil。　One　of　these　men　was　named