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diet, for we shot much wild fowl (geese, shags, and ducks), and
caught fish in the kelp, which were excellent eating. All that
could be procured was regularly and equally distributed to
the different messes in turn, and an account kept in a ‘ game
hook.’ (Appendix.)
“ 22d. Mr. Stokes went to examine Fury Harbour, and -
returned late at night. In consequence of his account of the
remains of the Saxe Cohourg sealing schooner, lost in that harbour,
I sent- a boat with the carpenter to collect from it some
wood and bolts wliich might be useful to our ship, and remained
at anchor for a day longer than I had intended.
“ This day all hands were put upon two-thirds’ allowance, but
as itwas a measure which affected thecrewmuchand myself notât
all, I was reluctant to give the necessary order, ivithout first proposing
the measure openly, and giving the following reasons :—
“ Having succeeded beyond expectation in the examination
of the coast thus far, and hoping to be able to continue the
survey in the same manner, while our provisions lasted, I
thought it better to shorten the allowance while all hands were
well and hearty, and could obtain supplies of fish and wild
fowl, rather than at a later period, when we might be otherwise
situated. An extent of coast lay before us, and the parts particularly
pointed out by Captain King, were yet unexamined.
“ 24th. A tolerably fine day ; I tried all the compasses on
shore, in three different places, placing them in a line to a distant
mark ; because in taking bearings, for the variation of
the compass, during previous days, I had found very wide
differences between the results of the same, as well as different
compasses ; and they were also very sluggish ; the light cards
being more so than the heavy ones. I found it impossible to
reconcile their results by change of place or position, therefore it
is probable that all the rock affected the needle ; and I suspect
that not only this island and the one on which Mount
Skyring is situated, but most of the islands near are magnetic
: particularly a cluster lying about a mile to seaward
of the Magill Islands, on which, I believe. Lieutenant Skyring,
or some of his party, took bearings. A boat was sent to
watch the tide, on the day of new moon, at the entrance of the
channel, and brought back a piece of the rock of which the
last-mentioned cluster of islets consists. It is similar to that
of Fury Island and Mount Skyring, apparently metallic, with
a sulphureous smell, when struck or broken.* Small pieces
put near the compass did not seem to affect it sensibly ; but I
did not spend time in trying the experiment with nicety, being
satisfied of the general result. There may be metal in many
of the Fuegian mountains, and I much regret that no person
in the vessel was skiUed in mineralogy, or at all acquainted
with geology. It is a pity that so good an opportunity of ascertaining
the nature of the rocks and earths of these regions should
have been almost lost.
“ I could not avoid often thinking of the talent and experience
required for such scientific researches, of which we were
wholly destitute; and inwardly resolving, that if ever I left
England again on a similar expedition, I would endeavour to
carry out a person qualified to examine the land; while the
officers, and myself, would attend to hydrography.”
* Geological Society, Coll. No. 197.
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