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C H A P T E R X X I.
Sk y rin g ’s chart — N oir I s l a n d — Penguins — Fuegians — Sarmiento —
Townshend Harbour—Horace Pe aks—Cape D e so la tio n -B o a t lost—
Basket—Search in Desolate Bay—Natives—Heavy gale—Surprise—
S e iz u re -C o n se q u e n c e s -R e tu rn to B e a g le -S a il to Stewart Harbour
—Set out again—Escape of Natives—Unavailing search—Discomforts
—Tides—Nature of Coast—Doris Cove—Christmas Sound—Cook—
York-Minster—March Harbour—Build a boat—Treacherous rocks—
Skirmish with the Natives—Captives—Boat-memory—Petrel.
“ 25th. W e weighed, and went round to Fury Harbour, for
the carpenter and his cargo, and met him with a spar and a
raft of plank, taken from the wreck. Having hoisted the boat
up, and got the plank on board, we stood out towards the
West Furies, by the wind; my intention being either to sail
round Noir Island, or anchor under it, before running to the
eastward, in order that no part of the sea-coast might be left
unexamined. We passed very near some of the rocks, but as
the day was fine and the weather clear, a good look-out at the
mast-head could be trusted.
“ Before leaving the vicinity of Mount Skyring, I should
remark that the true bearing of Mount Sarmiento’s summit,
which I obtained from the top of Mount Skyring, laid off on
Lieutenant Skyring’s chart, passed as truly through his position
of the summit as if the line had been merely drawn between
them. This is highly creditable to his work, for I know
he did not himself see Mount Sarmiento, when upon Mount
Skyring.
“ The breeze freshened, and drew more to the westward towards
evening, I had therefore no hopes of nearing Noir
Island. We saw the Tower Rocks distinctly before dark, and
stood on towards them until ten o’clock, closing ScyUa to
avoid Charybdis, for in-shore of us lay all those scattered rocks.
among which we had steered when passing the Agnes Islands
and Cape Kempe.
“ The night was spent in making short boards, under reefed
topsails, over the same two miles of ground, as nearly as possible,
with the lead going, and a thoroughly good look-out.
At daylight next morning the wind became strong and the
weather thick, with rain, but we made as much sail as we could
carry, and worked to windward all the day. In the afternoon it
moderated, and before dark we anchored in a very good roadstead,
at the east end of Noir Island, sheltered from all winds
from N. to S. b. E. (by the west) ; over a clear, sandy bottom ;
and with a sheltered cove near us where boats may land easily,
and get plenty of wood and water. In working up to the
Island, we passed very near a dangerous rock, under water,
lying four miles off shore; and another, near the anchorage.
T he sea does not break on either of them when there is not
much swell.
“ 27th. A fine day favoured us ; the master went to one part
of the island, and Mr. Stokes to another, while I went to a third.
Having taken angles at the extreme west point (which ends in
a cluster of rocks like needles), I passed quite round the island,
and returned to the anchorage after dusk, landing here and
there for bearings, in my way.
“ There is a cove at the south part of the island, where boats
would be perfectly safe in any weather, but the entrance is too
narrow for decked vessels. The island itself is narrow and long,
apparently the top of a ridge of mountains, and formed of sandstone,*
which accounts for the bottom near it being so good,
and for the needle-like appearance of the rocks at the west end ;
as the sand-stone, being very soft, is continually wearing away
by the action of the water.
“ Multitudes of penguins were swarming together in some
parts of the island, among the bushes and ‘ tussac’f near the
shore, having gone there for the purposes of moulting and rear-
* Geological Society, No. 238 to 240, (perhaps clay-slate. P.P.K.J
t Name given by sealers to a thick rushy kind of grass, which grows
near the sea, in these latitudes.
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