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VOYAGE, AND NAMES OF OBSERVERS. 



THE Expedition for observation of the Transit of Venus at Kerguelen's 

 Land sailed from England in the Windsor Castle, a steamship of the " Donald 

 Currie Line," on 1874, June 20, and arrived at Cape Town on July 20. 

 Ample arrangements had been made by the Admiralty for carrying the party 

 with little delay to Kerguelen's Land ; but, from accidents to their own and 

 other ships, which rendered necessary a change of the vessels intended for 

 Kerguelen, the observers were delayed in Cape Town longer than had been 

 anticipated. Finally, however, H.M.S. Volage, Captain Fairfax, R.N., (with 

 the observers and some instruments) and H.M. storeship Supply, Staff- 

 Commander Inglis, E.N., (carrying instruments, &c.) sailed on September 18 

 and 17, and were in company from September 19 till they approached 

 Kerguelen, when they were separated by very heavy weather. Finally, 

 the Volage anchored in Island Harbour, Royal Sound, on October 8 ; and the 

 Supply joined her on October 11. 



The Astronomical party consisted of the following gentlemen : 



Rev. S. J. Perry, F.R.S., Superintendent. 



Lieutenant Coke, R.N. 



Lieutenant Corbet, R.N. 



Lieutenant Groodridge, R.N. 



Rev. W. Sidgreaves. 



W. Bagnall Smith. 



THE SITE AT OBSERVATORY BAY, KERGUELEN ISLAND. 



But little was known of Royal Sound, in the S.E. of Kerguelen Island, 

 until it was visited and explored by Captain (now Sir George) Nares, in 

 H.M.S. Ohalknger, in 1874. His Report and his partial survey of this region 

 reached England before the departure of the Transit of Venus Expedition, 

 and decided the matter as to the best place for the head-quarters of the 

 Expedition. In spite of very bad weather, Mr. Perry and Captain Fairfax, 

 accompanied by Commander Bayley, of the American sealing schooner Emma 

 Jane, visited many parts of the shores of the Sound, and ultimately selected 



