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noticed, that there are two rocks nearly in the middle of the
liarbour, wliich are just awash at high water. A heavy swell
is generally found outside, owing to the comparatively shallow
water, in which there are soundings to about three miles from
the Cape. In the entrances are from ten to twenty fathoms,
therefore if the wind should baffle, or fail, an anchor may be
di-opped at any moment.
“ In my last search among the Gilbert Islands, I found a
good harbour for shipping, conveniently situated for carrying
on the survey, in a place which otherwise I should certainly
have overlooked : and to that harbour I decided on proceeding.
“ For two miles to the eastward of Stewart Harbour, the
shore projects, and is rocky and broken, then it retreats,
forming a large bay, in which are the Gilbert Islands, and
many rocky islets. We passed between Gilbert and Stewart
Islands, anchored at noon under a point at the west entrance
of the passage, and in the afternoon moved the Beagle to Doris
Cove, and there moored her.
“ I had decided to build another boat as quickly as possible,
for I found it so much the best way to anchor the vessel in a
safe place and then work with the boats on each side, that
another good one was most necessary. Our cutter required
too many men, and was neither so handy, nor could she pull to
windward so well as a whale-boat; and our small boat was
only fit for harbour duty. The weather on this coast was generally
so thick and blowing, as not to admit of any thing like
exact surveying while the vessel was under sail : the swell
alone being usually too high to allow of a bearing being taken
within six or eight degrees : and the sun we seldom saw. I f
caught by one of the very frequent gales, we might have heen
blown so far to the eastward that I know not how much time
would have been lost in trying to regain our position. These
coasts, which are composed of islands, allow boats to go a long
distance in safety, and, from the heights near the sea, rocks
and breakers may be seen, and their places ascertained, much
better than can possibly be done at sea. For building a new
boat we had all the materials on board, except prepared plank;
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