KARRATIVE OF THE CKPUM. 307 



and Balfour Rockl tact two flat-topped irtl^t.-i, about 20 feet high, apparently &M from 

 danger, at the entrance to Uoyal Sound, the depths between which an 14 to 25 fathom-, 

 with a rocky bottom ; two miles outside the outer rock (Balfour) a depth of 52 fathom* 



obtained (see Sheet 21). 



The southern side of the entrance to Royal Sound is formed by a large peninsula (50 

 square miles in extent) of ragged mountainous land, culminating in Mount Wyvillc 

 Thomson, 3160 feet above the level of the sea. On the spurs descending from Mount 

 Wyville Thomson are several conspicuous conical peaks, Thumb Peak, Sugar Loaf, Cat's 

 Ears, and Mount Wild, varying from 1200 to 2500 feet in height; and off its northern 

 coast are several peaked islands, Buchanan, Murray, and Suhm, from 200 to 500 

 feet above the sea level This peninsula is joined to the mainland by a low, narrow 

 isthmus, separating Royal Sound from Greenland Harbour. At 5.30 p.m. the sur- 

 veying parties returned to the ship, which then proceeded up Royal Sound for Island 

 Harbour, carrying a line of soundings, and carefully avoiding all kelp. At 7.30 P.M. a 

 schooner, the " Charles Coldgate," was observed at anchor in the harbour; and at 8 p.m. 

 the ship anchored there in 11 fathoms. From the captain of the "Charles Coldgate" no 

 information could be obtained ; he was a sulky kind of fellow, and seemed much dis- 

 appointed that the Expedition knew so much about Kerguelen. He supposed the 

 Challenger to be a few thousand miles out of her reckoning, and to have mistaken Royal 

 Sound for one of the harbours of New Zealand. 



On the 18th, shortly after midnight, the barometer began to fall, and the weather 

 became thick and rainy. At noon a sudden gale sprang np from the northward, and the 

 wind blew with considerable force (9) for two hours, after which it moderated rapidly, and 

 there was a fine sunset. 



The 19th was a fine day, so that astronomical observations were obtained from 

 the summit of Hog Island, and various stations taken up at suitable points, in the 

 sound, in prosecution of the survey. From the elevated stations on the summit of 



. Island, Suhm Island, and the western extremity of the spur from Mount Wyvillc 

 Thomson, magnificent views were obtained of the mass of islands in what Cook fittingly 



Bgnated a " Royal Sound." A base was measured by sound between Mouse and 1 

 Islands, and a survey of Island Harbour commenced on a large scale, whilst the stations 

 on elevated points enabled the positions of the numerous islands westward of Island 

 Harbour to be fixed, if not with absolute accuracy, still near enough for all present 

 requirements. 



The morning of the 20th was very fine, without a cloud in the sky or over the land, 

 and the clearness of the atmosphere was very remarkable, every peak and spar from the 

 mountain range sharply defined, and hills 15 or 20 miles off appearing only half that 

 distance away, not a breath of air stirring, and the sea as smooth as glass. The calm 

 continued until 9 A.M., after which a breeze sprang np from the northward, and the sky 



(sake, cbxll. exp.— toi. i — 1884.) 43 



