264 Voyage of the Novara. 



To the apparatus two SOlbs. shot were attached, and the first 

 100 fathoms of line were doubled. By this observation we 

 satisfied ourselves that such soundings are only succesful when 

 none but the best materials are employed, and, moreover, that 

 the line becomes deteriorated in an extraordinary degree by long 

 stowage on boardship, so that it is better in long voyages not 

 to take such large supplies of line, but to adopt most stringent 

 measures to prevent its being weakened by damp. Very 

 probably a light coating of tar over the line would tend to 

 keep it in good preservation, and it also seems advisable pro- 

 portionately to strengthen the first 500 or 1000 fathoms. 



On the 18th November the look-out man descried from the 

 main topgallant mast-head the Island of St. Paul, the goal of 

 our wishes, the object which had so long occupied our thoughts, 

 and on which our scientific capabilities were to be called into 

 enviable activity. The necessary arrangements were completed 

 for facilitating astronomical observations, the instruments and 

 other necessaries taken out and got in readiness to be conveyed 

 to the island, and the various stations and duties of the dif- 

 ferent members specified, so as to admit of the observations 

 being completed in the shortest possible time. 



On the 19th November, at daybreak, we found ourselves 

 close in with St. Paul's Island, while on our port-side the 

 outline of New Amsterdam was visible in the shape of two 

 lofty peaks on the horizon. As the wind blew from the N.W., 

 we kept the ship's course past the north promontory of the 



