NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 293 



eastern or leeward sides than on the western or weather coasts. In no case, however, does 

 it extend far from the shore, nor has any been seen between the islands. The vicinity 

 of the kelp should be carefully avoided. Between the two islands is a channel 12 miles 

 in width perfectly free from danger, the depths in which vary from 90 to 130 fathoms. 



The weather in the vicinity of the islands is seldom favourable, for owing to their 

 height, their position in the open ocean far away from any larger tract of land, and the 

 general prevalence of strong winds in their latitude, they are seldom free from fog or 

 mist, and their summits are but rarely visible, whilst days may elapse before a landing 

 can be effected on either of them. The prevalence of fog and mist not only renders the 

 islands difficult to see, but also prevents the position of the vessel approaching them being 

 ascertained with certainty, so that a course cannot be shaped to make them, or pass at a 

 given distance on either side of them with any great degree of confidence, it is therefore 

 advisable to avoid their neighbourhood unless some considerable object is to be gained 

 by visiting them. 



Viewed from the sea, the coast cliffs showed layers of compact and brecciated lavas 

 of no great thickness, and were surmounted by an undulating country covered with 

 herbage, which, as the height increases, passes into a barren mountain-cluster with many 

 sharp and sometimes perfectly conical peaks. At the time of the Challenger's visit the 

 highest of these were covered with snow, and for the greater part of the day enveloped 

 in mist ; the lower ones were mostly of a bright brick-red colour. 



The snow commenced, as usual, on the slopes of Marion Island as patches lying un- 

 melted in sheltered hollows, succeeded by a general thin coating or powdering over, through 

 which the black rock showed out in all directions, and above this, again, on the highest 

 cones and peaks, formed a continuous sheet of glistening white. The summits were enveloped 

 in clouds, which lifted or dispersed in a partial manner from time to time. Amongst 

 the patches of snow and below the snow line, the slopes of the island were covered with a 

 coating of green, in striking contrast to the dark cliffs and red lower cones, which were almost 

 destitute of verdure and had very little snow upon them. Here and there large patches 

 of yellow showed out amidst the green, and were conspicuous even at some distance from 

 the shore. It was found that these patches were formed of mosses. The mosses, indeed, 

 occurring thus in patches, some dark, some nearly white, and others yellow, form the 

 principal features in the vegetation as seen from a distance, showing out. amongst the 

 very uniform mixture of phanerogamic plants. The small rocky projections on the rough 

 surfaces of the modern lava-flows, standing out dark above the verdure, have at a 

 distance exactly the appearance of low bushes with dark foliage, and were at first 

 believed to be such. 



Marion Island. — At 6 a.m. sails were furled, and the ship proceeded under steam 

 looking for a landing place and anchorage ; the former was found at the northeast point 



