1774. ROUND THE WORLD. 159 



appeared to be an island disjoined from the other ; 

 but, on a nearer approach, we found it connected by 

 a low neck of land. At the point of the Cape are 

 two rocks ; the one peaked like a sugar-loaf, the other 

 not so high, and showing a rounder surface; and 

 S. by E. two leagues from the Cape are two other 

 rocky islets. This Cape is situated in the latitude 

 of 54° 30' S. longitude 73° 33' W. 



After passing the two islets, we steered E.S.E. 

 crossing the great bay of St. Barbara. We but just 

 saw the land in the bottom of it ; which could not be 

 less than seven or eight leagues from us. There was 

 a space, lying in the direction of E.N. E. from Cape 

 Noir, where no land was to be seen : this may be the 

 Channel of St. Barbara which opens into the Straits 

 of Magalhaens, as mentioned by Frezier. We found 

 the Cape to agree very well with his description ; 

 which shows that he laid down the channel from good 

 memoirs. At ten o'clock, drawing near the S.E. 

 point of the bay, which lies nearly in the direction of 

 S. 60° E. from Cape Noir, eighteen leagues distant, 

 we shortened sail, and spent the night standing off 

 and on. 



At two o'clock in the morning of the 19th, having 

 made sail, we steered S.E. by E. along the coast, and 

 soon passed the S. E. point of the Bay of St. Barbara, 

 which I called Cape Desolation ; because near it com- 

 menced the most desolate and barren country I ever 

 saw. It is situated in the latitude of 54° 55' S., 

 longitude 72° 12' W. About four leagues to the east 

 of this Cape is a deep inlet, at the entrance of which 

 lies a pretty large island, and some others of less note. 

 Nearly in this situation some charts place a channel 

 leading into the Straits of Magalhaens, under the 

 name of Straits of Jelouzel. At ten o'clock, being 

 about a league and a half from the land, we 

 sounded, and found sixty fathoms water, a bottom 

 of small stones and shells. 



The wind, which had been fresh at N. by W. began 



