DAY OF REST. Ill 



The following day was Sunday, and, there being 

 no absolute necessity to shift our berth, we remained 

 at anchor ; marking the character of this sacred 

 festival, by giving it up to the crew, for healthful 

 rest and harmless recreation, — after morning prayers 

 had been performed, — as much as the needful disci- 

 pline, upon a proper observance of which the effi- 

 ciency of a ship's company entirely depends, would 

 allow. This practice, constantly observed through- 

 out our long voyage, was always attended with the 

 best results. 



Some rather small pigeons,* of a dark brown colour, 

 marked with a white patch on the wings, were seen, 

 and some specimens shot. They made a whirring 

 sound in flight, like the partridge, and appeared 

 to haunt the rocks ; a habit which all subsequent 

 observation confirmed. 



February 12. — Soon after daylight we left this an- 

 chorage, whose exact position I mention, as it may be 

 of use to some future voyager in these seas. The 

 eastern of the three islands north of Roe's group was 

 just open of the north point of the bight in which 

 we lay, and a small rocky islet close to the shore bore 

 S.S.W. one mile ; we had five fathoms at low water 

 in the bight, and twelve immediately outside. 



After makins: a stretch to the southward for 



about five miles, in soundings varying from 20 to 



25 fathoms, we again closed with the shore, and 



anchored in five fathoms, on the south side of Roe's 



* PetropMla albipennis. — Gould. 



