Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/138

64 was unable to regain it: but on the 6th of January, 1774, M. de Rosnevet, in the frigate L'Oiseau arrived off the harbour, near the head of which one of his officers landed, and "took possession of the bay and of all the country, in the name of the King of France, with all requisite formalities," but it does not appear that any further knowledge of the extent and capabilities of this land was obtained.

Captain Cook was preparing for his third and last voyage, when the news of this discovery reached England, and he was directed in his instructions from the Admiralty to search for it on his way to Van Diemen's Land. Accordingly, on the 24th of December, whilst sailing along the parallel of its latitude, he observed, through the fog, two islands of considerable height, and eight or nine miles in circumference; these he named Cloudy Islands. A remarkable elevated rock which he recognized as that named the Isle of Re-union by M. Kerguelen, was soon afterwards seen, and by him called Bligh's Cap, by which name it is now distinguished. And on Christmas day the Resolution and Discovery anchored in the Baie de L'Oiseau, and although not the discoverers of this extensive island they were the first ships that ever anchored in any of its numerous harbours. Captain Cook named it Christmas Harbour, not knowing at the time that it had been previously named by its French discoverer.

An accurate survey of the harbour and a general