NARRATIVE OF THE CRUISE. 4:,?, 



CHAPTER XII. 



Melbourne to Sydney — Sydney — Excursion to Queensland — The Marsupialia— Sydney to Wellington — Procalistes — 

 Wellington to the Kerraadec and Friendly Islands — Tongatabu, Friendly Islands to the Fiji Islands — The Fiji Islands. 



Melbourne to Sydney. 



The Expedition remained at Melbourne until the 1st April, refitting the ship and 

 obtaining magnetic and other observations on shore, and the stay was greatly enlivened 

 by the receptions and excursions arranged for the members of the Expedition by the 

 inhabitants of Victoria. 



The German frigate " Arcona," Captain von Reibnitz, which had also recently visited 

 Kenmelen and Heard Islands to ascertain their fitness as a Station for observing the 

 transit of Venus, was anchored off Melbourne at the same time. The " Arcona " had 

 passed round the south end of Heard Island, so, from the information received from her 

 officers, it was possible to add somewhat to the Challenger's plan of that island. The 

 relations between the officers of the Challenger and those of the " Arcona" were most cordial ; 

 visits were frequently interchanged, and several pleasant reunions held on both vessels. 



On the 1st April, at 6 a.m., the vessel left Port Philip for Sydney, passing the heads 

 at 2 p.m. When outside a few trawlings were obtained, and at 5.30 p.m. a course was 

 shaped for Rodondo Island. 



On the 2nd April, at 5.30 a.m., the Glennie Islands and the land about Wilson 

 Promontory were seen, and the ship was steered to the southward of Rodondo 

 Island, which was passed at 8.30 a.m. During the forenoon an exploring party was 

 landed on East Moncoeur Island, 1 and dredgings and trawlings were obtained off the 

 island in 38 to 40 fathoms (Station 1G2 ; see Sheet 25), after which the ship proceeded 

 to the northeastward. West Moncoeur Island has two small rocky islets off its southern 

 end, instead of one as marked on the chart, and the eastern island has a rock separated 

 from it by a narrow channel both at the northwest and southwest points. The weather 

 in the forenoon was gloomy, with rain, but shortly after noon a southwest breeze sprang 

 up, the rain gradually cleared off, and the weather became finer. 



On the 3rd April the land about Mount Everard was observed at 11.30 a.m., and the 

 ship was steered to pass Gabo Island at a distance of 3 or 4 miles, fixing with 

 Mount Everard, Rame Head, Genoa Peak, and Howe Hill, which objects were easily 

 recognised. At 5.30 p.m. Gabo Island was passed, and a course shaped to get outside 

 the edge of the 100-fathom bank of soundings to ascertain the depth and temperature the 



1 The rock specimens collected were typical granite. 



