1846.] ETABLISSEMENT. 201 



We were fortunate in having selected this spot, as 

 strong breezes and unpleasant weather immediately fol- 

 lowed ; taking advantage of a favourable lull we ran to 

 leeward, to Frigate Island, where the wreck of the 

 ' Letitia ' still remained. We succeeded in effecting a 

 landing, and in erecting tents, to secure this as a principal 

 position, but so powerful was the breeze, and so much 

 did the surf aid it in causing the island to vibrate, that 

 at this period I was unable to obtain any satisfactory ob- 

 servations. We here noticed the remains of the huts of 

 the crew, and the grave of the Captain, who was drowned 

 in the attempt to recover money or goods from the vessel. 

 The whole island is perforated by rats and marine birds, 

 particularly a large species of sooty Procettaria, which 

 burrows under the light sand, loosely covered by a net- 

 work of a species of Samphire. Tern of four kinds were 

 very numerous, one small and of a beautiful silvery hue, 

 and some thousands of their eggs collected by the party 

 left in charge of the tents, were distributed to the crew, 

 and were nearly equal in flavour to those of .the Plover. 



We then visited Etablissement, where we found fair 

 landing, and succeeded in obtaining satisfactory observa- 

 tions ; subsequently, I made an attempt on the lee side of 

 North Island, which stands clear off the main group, and 

 is exposed to the full eastern sea. Here we very narrowly 

 escaped the loss of gig, as well as instruments, but by 

 the spirited conduct of her crew, she was extricated, at the 

 very moment when I feared she was beyond the chance 

 of rescue. 



Albatross Island, the northernmost of the group, was 

 then approached, under its lee, but no possibility offered 



