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Madeira than that of fifty-six south latitude. Durmg this day
I had excellent opportunities of taking angles, bearings, and
soundings, which I hoped would be sufficient for the south
and east sides of the Hermite Islands. The following night we
worked to the northward, near the Barnevelt Islands, the weather
being fine, and the moon shining brightly. , , , ,
“ May 1st. A beautiful day—May-day indeed. I landed
on the Barnevelt Islands, and took sights for time, laritude,
and true bearing, besides a round of angles, while thè Beagle
was making slow progress to the northward, the wind being-
very li“ht,, and variable. There is no good landing-place on
those islands ; but as the water was then comparatively smooth,
we were enabled to land upon a steep rocky part, where the
surf did not break much. They are two low islets, lying nearly
north and south, covered with grass, tussac, and weeds. The
lai-gest is about half a mile long, and one-third of a mile wide ;
the other is about two cables’ length square. Several rocks he
off the south end, towards both the east and west; and one
above water lies detached, towards the Hermite Islands, nearly
in mid-channel : hut no other appearance of danger was visible.
The angles gained here, crossing those from Orange Bay,
bounded the Hermite Islands towards the north—ffiough the
detafi of their coast-line, northwards, yet remained to be
ascertained.
“ 2d As fine a day as the preceding. We were close to
Evouts, an islet similar to the Banievelts, hut rather higher.
The weather enabled Mr. Wilson to continue his sketches of
the coast : hut indeed no part along which we sailed had
heen quite omitted. In the afternoon we closed the shore
near New Island, and were looking out sharply for banks and
shoals, fancying, because the laud looked lower, and the Nassau
fiat had shoal soundings, that we should find banks detached
from the land. Shoaler water we certainly found, compared
with that to which we had been lately accustomed, namely,
from fifteen to twenty fathoms, gradually decreasmg as we
neai-ed the shore, but we never had less than ten till we were
standing into a harbour in the evening. I could here trace no
resemblance whatever to any published chart; but seeing a
place at the back of some low islets which appeared likely to
afford sheltered anchorage, we steered for it, and at sunset
anchored in a well-sheltered harbour on the east side of a large
island, to the west of New Island. The water shoaled gra-
dually, over a fine sandy bottom; but we ran in rather too far,
and had only three fathoms after veering cable, so we were
obliged to shift our berth.
“ 3d. Mr. Murray prepared to go along the coast towards
Cape Good Success, carrying one of the chronometers, and
other necessary instruments, and taking three weeks’ provisions.
He set out, in a whale-boat, with six men, well armed and
equipped in every way. Having despatched the master, I
prepai-ed for an excursion into the interior passages of this pai-t
of Tierra del Fuego : while Mr. Stokes, in another boat, was to
contiue the survey of the coast from the east side of the head
of Nassau Bay to the vicinity of New Island ; and Lieut.
Kempe would take care of the ship, and forward her refitting,
besides wooding and watering.
Ilia
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