Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/127

] They had no plan of the island, and their information on this subject was vague and unsatisfactory; they stated it to be twenty miles long and ten broad; having three bays on its east side, in which ships may anchor, but the western coast is quite unapproachable by ships of any size, on account of the heavy swell that constantly rolls in upon its shores: a boat belonging to this party and all the crew were lately lost there, whilst in search of sea elephants.

In America Bay, Lively Bay, and Ship Bay, vessels at anchor are well protected from the prevailing winds, but must leave the two latter immediately on the springing up of an easterly breeze, as America Bay is the only one where there is room for a ship to beat out. These winds are said to be of rare occurrence, so much so that the French frigate Heroine, which was sent in 1834 to survey this group of islands, remained the whole period of her stay, above five weeks, moored in Ship Bay; since then, however, two English whalers were wrecked in the same bay, by trying to ride out an easterly gale.

Mr. Hickley told us that there was every indication of an easterly wind, which is more frequent just at this time of the year, and the height of the barometer seemed to confirm his opinion, or I should have anchored for a few hours to have examined the bay; but convinced from the nature of its formation that it could be of no use as a magnetic station, and, being anxious to rejoin the Terror as