NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISK. 



369 



is only about a cable in width. Seen from a distance these islets appear three in number, 

 as a low neck of land joins the N.E. and S.W. points of the larger of the two islets, 

 and is only distinguished on a nearer approach. Eounding this group, at a distance of 

 from 3 to 5 miles, no off-lying danger could be detected, either from the masthead or deck 

 of the Challenger. 



Since the discovery of the M c Donald and Heard Islands, they have been frequently 

 sighted by passing vessels, and until a knowledge of their existence was widely dissemi- 

 nated, each captain who saw them looked on them as unknown land. In 1857 Captain 

 Meyer, of the German ship " Rochelle," was apparently not aware of their existence, and 

 gave an account of them as unknown islands, which was published by Dr. Neumeyer in 

 Petermann's Mittheilungen for 1858. 



Fig. 134, — M'Donald Islands and Meyer Rock, as seen from H.M.S. Challenger, 6th February 1874. 



Heard Island. 



Having rounded the McDonald Islands, and obtained a sounding of 105 fathoms, hard 

 ground, 4 miles eastward of them, the ship was steered S. | W. (S.E. true) for the supposed 

 position of Heard Island. At noon the northern end of Heard Island was sighted and 

 the course altered to pass round it, other observations of the sun being obtained at 2 p.m., 

 when Red Islet, off its north point, bore south. Steering along the east coast the vessel 

 eventually anchored in Corinthian Bay at 3.40 p.m. in 10 fathoms. A gale of wind blew 

 all day, and the squalls off the high land of Heard Island were very violent, raising large 

 quantities of spoondrift ; in Corinthian Bay the wind was steady, both in direction and 

 force, as it came over low land, which connects the high northwest promontory with the 

 main island. The weather though not foggy was misty, for Shag Island was not seen until 

 the ship was anchored in the bay. Clouds completely covered the high land, above the 

 height of 1000 to 1500 feet, but the lower hills and the M c Donald Islands were clear, so 

 that their heights could be ascertained. 



(nakr. chall, exp. — vol. i. — 1884.) 47 . 



