safe anchorage for other vessels, it is out of the question, being
an exposed roadstead, with many rocks, both to seaward and
in-shore. A sealer might use it, but not willingly I should
think. As we ran towards the Agnes Islands, before a strong
AV.N.AV. wind, many rocks and breakers showed themselves,
and when we neared the islands, became numerous on each side
of us. It would have been more prudent to have kept outside
all of them ; but I was anxious to find Hope Harbour, or run
into the entrance of the Barbara Channel, and anchor in the
north cove of Fury Island. Having passed the three Agnes
Islands, and being nearly abreast of Cape Kempe,* our view
became far from agreeable, for the sea, on all sides, seemed
strewed with breakers ; and how to steer so as to pass between
them was perplexing. We were at this time running free, under
treble reefed topsails, with top-gallant yards and masts on deck ;
the wind being strong from W.N. W., but the weather tolerably
clear. Suddenly the boatswain hailed, ‘ Hard-a-port, a rock
under the bows !’ Round the little vessel turned, almost as fast
as the order was given ; but the thrill that shot through us was
happily not the precursor of our destruction ; for the supposed
rock proved to be a huge whale which had risen close to the
bows, and was mistaken for the top of a rock by the boatswain,
who was looking out on the forecastle, while I was at the
mast-head, and the ‘ hands’ were upon deck. This part of
the coast, from the Agnes Islands to Cape Schömberg, is the
worst I have seen, it is so very broken, and has so many rocks
and dangerous breakers lying at a long distance from the
shore.
“ At noon we were close to Fury Island; but the wind fell
and prevented our making much progress. Fury Harbour,
where the Saxe Cobourg was lost, is a wild exposed place, and,
as the bottom is bad, it ought to be avoided by all vessels:
there is but one patch of good ground, and that is very small.
“ Passing round Fury Island, we entered the Barbara Channel,
at the entrance to which stands Mount Skyring, a high,
peaked, and most barren mountain, visible at a great distance.
• The three peaks, in-shore of Cape Kempe, are very remarkable.
We all felt much additional interest in what was then seen,
on account of the late survey in the Adelaide. Cape Schömberg
and the Astrea Rock were easily known by Lieutenant Graves’s
sketch. To a high mountain, which in some views very much
resembled the dome of St. Paul’s, I gave that name (finding it
out of the limits of Lieutenant Skyring’s survey): it lies a short
distance east of Cape Schomherg. A passage appeared to go to
the eastward, passing from the Barbara channel, northward of
Cape Schomherg and St. Paul’s. Light baffling winds and an
ebb-tide, of about a knot an hour, setting out of the Barbara,
detained us until six p.m., between the Magill and Fury
Islands; but soon after that hour we anchored in North Cove,
a small but perfectly secure place. By reaching this anchorage,
I had the satisfaction of being enabled to connect my work
with Lieutenant Skyring’s, and to take a fresh start for the
next piece of coast. Hitherto we had been extremely fortunate,
both with the ship and the boats ; but such success could not
be expected always.
“ 15th. Early this morning, Mr. Murray went in a whaleboat
to the islands, near Cape Kempe, to ascertain the situations
of some reefs and islets thereabouts, and sketch the outer coast.
Mr. Stokes went in another boat to look for Hope Harbour,
and examine part of the coast. The boatswain accompanied
him, as he thought he knew his way by passages among the
islands, although he had failed to recognise the place from the
offing.
“ 16th. Bad weather, blowing a gale of wind and raining
nearly all the day.
“ 17th. A squally and disagreeable day; but our boats made
some progress.
“ 18th. Some Natives came alongside for a short time. As
usual, we would not allow them to come on board, because of
their being such dexterous thieves. -A man to whom the canoe
appeared to belong was far better featured, and more stoutly
made, than any we had seen among the Fuegians. After bartering
some of their very valuable property they left us.
“ 10th. Early this morning Mr. Stokes returned: he had
hi