NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 347 



knowledge of the southern coast, but all the western or windward side is still imperfectly 

 explored, and is at present delineated on the charts from the rough sketches of the 

 whaling vessels; so that, notwithstanding the lapse of a century since its discovery, 

 Kerguelen Island is far from being thoroughly known, and the interior has been 

 seldom visited, as the difficulty of travelling is so great, owing to the severity of the 

 climate, the absence of trees or wood of any kind, the want of supplies, and the rugged 

 nature of the ground, that long excursions inland are all but impracticable. The 

 temperature, even in the summer season, is but a few degrees above freezing point on 

 the coast, rendering it requisite for an exploring party to carry tents and blankets, 

 besides fuel, in addition to their provisions ; and these necessaries have to be transported 

 over ground covered with a boggy vegetation, into which the leg sinks ankle, and 

 frequently knee-deep, which renders the work of exploration very laborious, and reduces 

 the distance that can be travelled over in a day very considerably, a walk of 10 miles in 

 Kerguelen being fully equal to one of 25 or even 30 miles on hard ground. 



. The island appears to be the upper portion of a submerged plateau of considerable 

 extent, for Sir James Ross found depths of 70 to 80 fathoms extending 100 miles north- 

 east of Cape Francois, and the Challenger found depths of 50 to 60 fathoms 45 miles 

 northeast of Cape Digby, and of 80 to 150 fathoms between its south coast and Heard 

 Island, whilst the German frigate "Gazelle" sounded in 125 fathoms 40 miles west of 

 Bligh's Cap, and in the same depth 80 miles north of Swain Island. It is therefore 

 probable that Heard Island is the southern peak of the backbone of this submerged 

 plateau, for a reference to the chart shows that the main watershed of Kerguelen 

 Island, of which the culminating point is Mount Ross, 6120 feet above the level of the 

 sea, runs in a N.W. by N. and S.E. by S. direction ; and as the summit of Heard Island 

 lies 260 miles S.E. by S. of Mount Ross, and comparatively shallow water has been 

 obtained between them, it may be concluded that they both belong to the same 

 system of mountains, although part of the range is submerged. 



As before mentioned, the main watershed of the island runs in a N.W. by N. and S.E. 

 by S. direction, and consequently the general direction of the ravines and water- courses 

 is N.E. and S.W., the northeastern slope being more gentle than the southwestern, where 

 the descent is sometimes very abrupt. The summit of the watershed is perpetually snow- 

 clad, and from it glaciers descend on each side, occasionally reaching the sea. The most 

 notable glaciers are those from Mount Richards, which fall on the east side into London 

 River, and on the west side into Thunder Harbour, — a bay deriving its name from the noise 

 made by the frequent fall of large pieces of ice over the cliffs into the sea. Owing to the 

 almost perpetual cloud and mist covering the snow-clad summits of the main ridge of the 

 island, the glaciers are seldom visible ; they may, however, under favourable circumstances 

 be seen and even visitod, as an exploring party from the " Gazelle " reached the foot of 



