292 THE VOYAGE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 



l'Esperance," in the hope that this island would prove an outlying sentinel of the Antarctic 

 continent, which was then being constantly sought for, and the necessity for the 

 existence of which was firmly fixed in the minds of the geographers of that age. 

 M. Marion tried for anchorage without success, and after remaining five days in the 

 vicinity, abandoned his researches owing to the loss of the bowsprit and a mast of his 

 consort " Le Castries," and some sails in his own ship " Le Mascarin." 



These islands were next sighted on the 12th December 1776 by Captain Cook, who 

 sailed between them, and not knowing the names given to them by M. Marion, called 

 them the " Prince Edward Islands," which designation is still retained by the northern and 

 smaller of the two. 



From the year 1776 to the present time both islands have been much frequented by 

 whalers and sealers, who as early as 1802 had establishments on shore on both islands ; 

 for Captain Fanning in the narrative of his voyages mentions them as if they 

 were well known at that date. Sir James Ross received information to the effect 

 that whaling vessels sometimes anchored off the east side of Prince Edward Island in 

 8 or 10 fathoms, with the cave W.N.W., the N.E. point N.E. by E., and the S.E. or 

 Mary's Point S.W. ^ S. 



From the records of M. Marion, Captain Cook, Sir J. Ross, and Captain Cecille, and 

 the survey of the Challenger, the following account of these islands has been compiled : — 



Marion Island, the southern and larger of the two, is 33 miles round ; in shape an 

 irregular parallelogram, whose sides are east and west, and N.E. by N. and S.W. by S., the 

 sides running east and west averaging 11 miles in length, and the others 7 miles, with an 

 area of 70 square miles, its summit rising upwards of 4200 feet above the level of the 

 sea. Its geographical position has now been well ascertained, for good observations were 

 obtained on shore by the Challenger's surveying officers. It lies between the parallels 

 of 46° 48' S., and 46° 56' S. latitude, and the meridians of 37° 35' and 37 r 54' E. 

 longitude. The observation spot close to the landing place just west of the N.E. 

 point of the island is in lat. 46° 49' 30" S., long. 37° 49' 22" E., and Boot Rock, a 

 remarkable islet off its north end, in lat. 46° 48' N., long. 37° 43' 45" E. (see Sheet 19). 



Prince Edward Island, the northern and smaller, is 15 miles round, circular in shape, 

 with an area of 16 square miles. Its summit rises to the height of 2370 feet, and it lies 

 between the parallels of 46° 34' and 46° 39' S. latitude, and the meridians of 37° 53' and 

 38° 1' E. longitude. On its northern side are three detached rocks (Ross Rocks), and on 

 its eastern side a remarkable cave. Seen from the westward it shows a rounded summit, 

 the land sloping gradually to the southward and terminating in a precipitous cliff about 

 1500 feet in height. On the north side the slope is more abrupt, and the north point 

 is a wedge-shaped hill, which from a distance appears detached from the island ; this hill 

 is but slightly higher than the Ross Rocks which lie off it. 



Both islands are surrounded by kelp, of which there is considerably more on the 



