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



occasionally visible, but the atmosphere continued misty. At 9 p.m. the gale was at its 

 height, the force of the wind being 10. 



On the 17th, shortly after midnight, the gale moderated. At daylight (3.30 a.m.), 

 the ship wore and made sail to double-reefed topsails and courses, and stood in towards 

 the land, which was seen at 7 a.m. through the mist, and Mount Peeper, a round-backed 

 hill, 650 feet high, with an ill-defined summit, distinguished ; Mount Campbell was looked 

 for, but it was afterwards found that when south of Cape Digby it is hidden by a 

 low range of hills between it and that Cape, that is, to vessels near the coast, farther 

 off, it can be seen over these low hills. At 8.30 a.m. the Prince of Wales Foreland, the 

 hills on the south side of Royal Sound, and Mount Crozier were distinguished, and were 

 all free from cloud. When within 3 miles of Cape Sandwich the ship ran to the south- 

 ward along the land towards Royal Sound, carrying a line of soundings, and keeping about 

 3 miles from the coast, which was low between Cape Sandwich and Charlotte Point. 

 From Charlotte Point the low land continued until it turned to the westward into 

 Shoal Water Bay, the turning point being marked by a low cliff. Between Charlotte 

 Point and Bluff Point (at the entrance to Shoal Water Bay), If miles inland, is a 

 remarkable low hill, named Mount Bungay, with two conspicuous boulders on its flat 

 summit. Ail along the coast kelp was observed, stretching in some cases a 

 considerable distance from the shore ; the soundings varied from 25 to 30 fathoms, 

 the bottom being mud, and the lead frequently bringing up fragments of Sponges. 

 At noon the ship was off the Prince of Wales' Foreland, and the wind being then quite 

 light, and the weather fine, sail was shortened, and steam got up to dredge, and survey- 

 ing parties sent away to take up stations on the Foreland, and on the flat-topped rock 

 four miles to the southward (Balfour Rock). The landing on Balfour Rock was difficult 

 owing to the swell, but at the Foreland it was easy. From the station on the Foreland an 

 excellent view was obtained, the snow-clad summit of Mount Ross being distinctly 

 visible, but before all the angles to the numerous peaks could be obtained, the mist again 

 came on. 



Prince of Wales Foreland, the peninsula marking the northern entrance to Royal 

 Sound, is a long-backed hill, the highest part of which is 840 feet above the sea level. 

 On its south side are precipitous cliffs ; on its north side it sloi>es gradually down to the 

 coast of Shoal Water Bay ; a remarkable boulder stands out conspicuously on a whity- 

 brown ])atch against this northern slope which is covered with moss ; walking up the 

 side of the hill is rendered laborious in consequence of the leg frequently sinking knee- 

 deep into this moss. The Foreland is joined to the mainland by a low isthmus which 

 separates Shoal Water Bay from Royal Sound. In Shoal Water Bay (which derives its 

 name from its comparative shallowness), is a conspicuous rocky little island (Matelot 

 Island), and the greater part of the bay is overgrown with kelp. Off the eastern point of 

 Prince of Wales Foreland a ledge of rocks extends about a quarter of a mile. Harston 



