Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/137



Islands were discovered in 1772 by M. Kerguelen, a lieutenant of the French navy. He first observed two small islands on the 13th of January, which he named the "Isles of Fortune," after the ship he commanded, and afterwards came in sight of the main island, but being driven off by tempestuous weather he was unable to approach its shores and returned to the Mauritius.

From the exaggerated account he gave of the extent of this new discovery, it was very generally believed that the great southern continent which the philosophers of that time considered necessary to maintain the balance of our earth was at length found: and M. de Kerguelen, in command of the Rolland of 64 guns, accompanied by L'Oiseau frigate, was sent again to examine more fully this interesting land.

His second expedition was hardly more fortunate than the former. In December, 1773, he again came in sight of the principal island, and gave the name of Cape François to a fine bold promontory, which forms at once the northern headland of one of its best harbours, and the north extreme point of the main island. His ship was driven off the coast by strong westerly gales, and