78 DANGEROUS SERVICE. Feb. 1827. 
In his journal Captain Stokes says : 
“ Incessant rain and thick clouds prevented my completing, 
until this day (19th), the observations necessary for making an 
island, just outside the Harbour of Mercy, the southern end 
of my base, for the trigonometrical connection of the coasts and 
islands near the western entrance of this weather-beaten Strait. 
“On the 20th, I weighed and beat to windward, intending 
to search for anchorage on the north shore, where I might land 
and fix the northern end of our base line. In the evening we 
anchored in an archipelago of islands, the real danger of whose 
vicinity was much increased to the eye by rocks, scattered in 
every direction, and high breakers, occasioned doubtless by 
reefs under water. We observed that most of the larger islands 
have small banks of sand at their eastern sides, on which ancho- 
rage may be found; but for ordinary purposes of navigation, 
this cluster of islands* need only be pointed out to be avoided. 
‘The number and contiguity of the rocks, below as well as 
above water, render it a most hazardous place for any square- 
rigged vessel : nothing but the particular duty on which I was 
ordered would have induced me to venture among them. Fore- 
and-aft vessels might work with far less risk ; and as the rocks 
are frequented by vast numbers of fur seal, a season or two 
might be profitably passed here by a sealing vessel so rigged. 
‘“‘ This morning (21st) I landed on one of the larger islands, 
with Lieutenant Skyring, and having ascended an eminence 
(Observation Mount) with the necessary instruments, fixed its 
position, and made it the northern end of our base. 
“< Tt was a beautiful, and clear day; the Isles of Direction 
(or Evangelists), as well as every point of importance on the 
adjacent coast, were seen distinctly during several hours. 
** My next object was to fix the position of Cape Victory, 
and ascertain whether anchorage could be found in its neigh- 
bourhood. Accordingly, we weighed early next morning (22d,) 
and after extricating ourselves from this labyrinth (not without 
much difficulty and danger), we beat to the westward. Violent 
squalls, a heavy sea, and thick weather, which came on about 
* Called the Scilly Isles. 
