mss142-vasilevShishmarev-i4-050

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The head is black with two upward-pointing feathers and the
tail is black. The kadarnist lives in flocks, runs in the
grass very swiftly, but flies ponderously and noisily. He
is very easy to shoot at or to catch. At night they roost
in the trees. Noticing that, we set over a tree a net, which
we suddenly drew together when a large number gathered there.
By morning, through such a technique we counted about a hundred
ensnared kadarnists. They become tame very quickly.

On our arrival, we saw here an innumerable quantity of
wild geese, and shot so many of them that we did not know
where to put them. Toward the end of our stay they became
wary, and would not let anyone approach them except on horse-
back. After that, they flew away altogether. Various species
of wild ducks, pelicans or baba birds [white pelicans] and
other species of sea birds are here in quantity.

Finally, all the work on the sloops and the baking of
the hardtack was finished. On February 8, we moved from shore,
but only on the 12th at nine o'clock were we able to leave
the port because of head winds, very glad that the tedious
three-months stay in port was finished, which, although it
was located in a good climate, was devoid of people, not
offering a seafarer any entertainment. The constant monotony
of life so wearied us that we thanked God when a day was fin-
ished, and wished rather to suffer a storm at sea and bad
weather than to remain here. And, indeed, we were right.
Uneducated, half-savage, lethargic, and lazy Spaniards of