A new voyage to the East-Indies in the years 1690 and 1691 being a full description of the isles of Maldives, Cicos, Andamants, and the Isle of Ascention ... / by Monsieur Duquesne ; to which is added, a new description of the Canary Islands, Cape Verd, Senegal, and Gambia, &c. ; illustrated with sculptures, together with a new map of the Indies, and another of the Canaries ; done into English from the Paris edition.

CHAP. XLVII.

A Description of the Isle of Ascen∣tion, and of the great Tortoises that are found there.

AS soon as we had cast Anchor, the Seamen began to fish, and catch vast numbers; next day I went ashoar, although it was very difficult landing, the Sloop being obliged to set us ashoar on a steep rock, where we were forced to creep on all four, with a great deal of trouble and dan∣ger; several of our sick that were landed here, died presently, not hav∣ing strength enough to bear the Air, and the difficulties of climbing the Cliffs.

There is no Water found in this uninhabited Island, nor any thing to be seen but parch'd barren Hills, and Vales without verdure; nay, not so much as a blade of Grass, or any Herb; so violent and piercing are the Rays of the Sun. It's situated in 7 d. 30 m. of S. L. and may be about

five leagues in compass. At first it appeared full of Mountains and Crag∣gy Rocks, cover'd with Birds dung, who make their Nests on the top of them; but in the West of the Island, two high Mountains rise, which are a little green, being better moistned by the frequent Dews, which causes the ground all about, to abound with the largest, and best tasted Pursloine that ever I met with.

As weak as I was, the desire I had to be cured of the Scurvy, in taking the Air at Land, which is the only remedy for this evil, made me run up and down this part of the Island; where I observ'd one thing that was very extraordinary: The Birds which stood thick on the Rocks, suffered us to come so near them, that we might take them with our hands, and I stooping to gather some Pursloine, several hovering round my head, came and pearcht on my Hat, of which I took four alive, and kill'd two more with my Cane.

The great numbers of these Birds, destroy the young Tortoises as soon as hatch'd, for they love their flesh so

well, that they are continually pur∣suing them; and before they leave the Egg, or are able to gain the Sea, or swim on the surface of the Water; they kill them with their Beaks; but after they are grown bigger, the light∣ness of their shell makes them swim with more strength, and defends them from these Birds of Prey. Yet not∣withstanding this vast destruction of them, their number is immense; the Tortoise being one of those Creatures, that multiply most. Nor will they ad∣mire at it, who consider it as one of the largest fish, that has its Nutri∣ment from this Element.

Its shape and colour being known by most people, I thought it unne∣cessary to give you a particular de∣scription of it here; I shall only say, that its head resembles that of an Eagle, and the Fins, which are about a foot and half long, are hid under their Shells: And for that reason, when the Requiems (a fish I have men∣tioned before) meet with the Tortoises, they always seize upon that part first, and so kill them; their Shell being but thin, and uncapable of resisting

so great a strength, as that of the Re∣quiem: This Battle I have often seen my self, and so can the better attest the truth of it.

Some who have been ill inform'd, have said, that they make use of their Paws in fighting, as the Land Tor∣toises do; but nothing is more false than this, they having nothing like a Paw, only a few Prickles at the end of their Fins, which they Crawl ashoar with, and dig holes in the ground to lay their Eggs in; which having done, they immediately return to Sea again, leaving them covered, to be hatch'd by the warmth of the Sun.

Great care and diligence must be used in the taking of them, for they are very quick-sighted, you must range your self in the night, in seve∣ral places of the Creek, where they are known to come ashoar, and when you perceive them at a sufficient di∣stance from the Water, run to 'em and throw 'em on their backs, and then 'tis impossible for 'em to rise again.

The Tortoises that are taken at the Isle of Ascention, are the biggest that ever I saw; there are some that weigh

three or four hundred weight, suffici∣ent to feed so many men at a time; the flesh is very wholsom and delicate, and the Eggs, which are exactly round, and are found in great quantities a∣long the coast, are almost as big as an Hen's, but their shells are so thick, that if you throw them against the ground, they will rebound without breaking.