1774. ROUND THE WORLD. 173 



CHAP. III. 



RANGE FROM CHRISTMAS SOUND, ROUND CAPE HORN, THROUGH 

 SRA1T LE MAIRE, AND ROUND STATEN LAND; WITH AN 

 ACCOUNT OF THE DISCOVERY OF A HARBOUR IN THAT 

 ISLAND, AND A DESCRIPTION OF THE COASTS. 



At four o'clock in the morning on the 28th, we 

 began to unmoor ; and at eight weighed and stood 

 out to sea, with a light breeze at N.W. which after- 

 wards freshened, and was attended with rain. At 

 noon, the east point of the sound (Point Nativity ), 

 bore N. £ W.$ distant one and a half leagues, and St. 

 Ildefonso Isles S. E. \ S., distant seven leagues. The 

 coast seemed to trend in the direction of E. by S., 

 but the weather being very hazy, nothing appeared 

 distinct. 



We continued to steer S.E. by E. and E.S.E., 

 with a fresh breeze at W.N. W., till four o'clock 

 P.M., when we hauled to the South, in order to have 

 a nearer view of St. Ildefonso Isles. At this time we 

 were abreast of an inlet, which lies E. S. E. about 

 seven leagues from the sound ; but it must be ob- 

 served that there are some isles without this distinc- 

 tion. At the west point of the inlet, are two high peaked 

 hills ; and below them, to the E. two round hills, or 

 isles, which lie in the direction of N.E. and S.W. 

 of each other. An island, or what appeared to be an 

 island, lay in the entrance ; and another but smaller 

 inlet appeared to the west of this ; indeed, the coast 

 appeared indented and broken as usual. 



At half-past five o'clock, the weather clearing up, 

 gave us a good sight of Ildefonso Isles. They are 

 a group of islands and rocks above water, situated 

 above six leagues from the main, and in the latitude 

 of 55° C/6' S., longitude 69° 41' W. 



