NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 37 



Kerguelen's Land should be ascertained with the greatest possible accuracy, and although your interval from 

 the Cape will be large for chronometrical measurement, yet you should bring the whole force of your 

 chronometers to bear on the question of connecting the station with the Capo observatory, and also with the 

 observatory at Melbourne. 



Much importance is attached to the examination of the region in the neighbourhood of the great Ice- 

 barrier, and after leaving Kerguelen's Land and looking at Heard's or M'Donald's Island, where, I have been 

 informed by Captain M 'Donald, who discovered it, that he observed the appearance of a probable harbour, you 

 will strike southerly in the neighbourhood of 90° of east longitude and approach the edge of the ice as near as 

 may be with safety. Captain Moore reached to the parallel of 65° in this meridian in 1845, and observed the 

 appearance of land to the westward. It is not desirable, however, that you should pursue any extended hydro- 

 graphical explorations in this region with a single unfortified ship, but after having made the necessary investiga- 

 tions of the depths, temperature, and fauna of the ocean, you will again turn north for Melbourne in Australia, 

 where I calculate you may arrive in March 1874. "While navigating in these southern latitudes, I strongly com- 

 mend to your study and that of your officers the Ice Chart of the Antarctic Regions published by the Admiralty. 



Having remained a short time at Melbourne, you will proceed to Sydney, which will be the second stage 

 for a complete refit and a rest from your labours, and from Australia a report of your proceedings will be looked 

 for in England with great interest. 



It is probable you will leave Sydney about the middle of May 1874, and carrying a line of deep-sea 

 soundings direct to the north cape of New Zealand, proceed on to Auckland. Some importance is attached to the 

 examination of the region of those small islands which lie to the southward and westward of New Zealand, viz., 

 the Auckland, Macquarie, and Campbell Islands, but the adoption or rejection of this portion of the programme 

 must be left to your own judgment when this stage of the voyage shall have been reached ; the time at your 

 disposal, and the health and condition of your crew, must necessarily be the principal elements of consideration 

 in coming to a decision. Under any circumstances it is desirable that you should finally quit New Zealand not 

 later than the first week in August of 1874. 



From N«w Zealand your course will be through the Coral Sea towards Torres Straits. At the French 

 settlement at Noumea Bay, on the south-west side of New Caledonia, you will be able to replenish your fuel ; 

 passing thence to the northward, you would carry out your investigations along the Lousiade Archipelago and 

 southern shores of New Guinea, and enteT Torres Strait by the Bligh Passage and the great north-eastern 

 channel, passing out by Prince of Wales or one of the neighbouring channels, thence through the Arafura Sea 

 to Koepang in the island of Timor, where you will be able to obtain refreshments and probably fuel. 



Koepang is a very well determined station for longitude by measurements between the observatories of 

 both Sydney and Batavia. 



From Timor you would proceed either north or south of Sumba as convenient, and enter the Java Sea by 

 the Strait of Alias or Lombok, taking care to secure your westing before the westerly monsoon has set in. 

 You will then have before you the investigation of a most interesting and little known region. At Macassar you 

 will procure all that you may need in regard to supplies of fresh provisions and fuel, and passing between Celebes 

 and Borneo, you will enter the Celebes and Sulu Seas, and as it is not desirable you should reach Manila until 

 the close of the hurricane season in November, you will probably find leisure to prosecute hydrographical in 

 addition to- other researches by determining accurately the positions of any prominent points or islands which 

 may be in your route or in any other direction which circumstances may permit. Commander Chimmo in the 

 " Nassau" has lately added something to our knowledge of this region, and the results when received here shall 

 be duly communicated for your information. 



As you will have been able thoroughly to refit the ship and machinery at Sydney, and if necessary to dock 

 her, it is not contemplated there will be any necessity to visit Hong-Kong, but you will have to consider in good 

 time whether it may be necessary to apply to the senior officer there to forward stores or provisions to you at 

 Manila, which latter will be a good port for refit and refreshment before proceeding into the Pacific. 



You would leave Manila about December 1874, and as there will be no subsequent opportunity of visit- 

 ing the western or Polynesian region of the Pacific, it will bo necessary to make a stretch as far eastward 

 and southward as the seasons and other circumstances will admit before proceeding to Japan. It will be most 



