154 THE ANTARCTIC. 



are free from ice and snow. Only near Cape Dundas 

 was a small amount of vegetation observed on the rocks ; 

 Weddell describes it as short turf, while Dumont 

 d'Urville considered it to be lichen. To the north of 

 the northern end of Laurie Island lie several small 

 islands, Saddle Island and Weddell Island, as well as 

 numerous cliffs. The boats sent off by D'Urville suc- 

 ceeded in landing on Weddell Island, and short as their 

 stay was, it was nevertheless of great value to geographical 

 science, since it was ascertained that this small island 

 and probably therefore the two larger ones, is not 

 composed of volcanic rock, but is built up of crystalline 

 slate, that is to say, " calcaire silicieuse," and slates which 

 slope at an angle of 80° from N.N.E. to S.S.W. Quartzite 

 slate is given instead of the former in another place, and 

 this is much more probable than a later fresh-water 

 formation of silicious chalk. Whether this angle indicates 

 an actual fall of strata or possible transverse stratification 

 is not obvious ; but it is satisfactory to know that the 

 geological structure of Tierra del Fuego probably re- 

 appears so far to the south-east and indeed in undoubted 

 disturbed deposition. 



After Laurie Island follows, as already indicated, 

 Washington Straits, separated from Lewthwaite Straits 

 by the extended chain of the Powell Islands which is 

 severed in the middle. Its western shore outlines the 

 largest member of the group of the South Orkneys, 

 Coronation Island, so called in honour of the coronation 

 of George IV. Its easternmost point is situated about 

 latitude 6o° 55' S. and longitude 45° 20' W., the western- 

 most, Cape Return, in latitude 6o° 43' S. and longitude 

 46° 22' W. Cape Conception projects farthest north, to 

 latitude 6o° 32' S., while the southernmost point is close 

 to the most eastern. What has been said of Laurie 

 Island is equally true of this one, indeed all who have 

 visited it describe it as yet more wild and desolate in 



