156 EVANGELIST ISLES. March 1828. 
with the exception of occasional gusts down the ravines and 
sounds, we had the wind light at W.S.W.; but the rapid 
travelling of the scud over-head showed that the usual weather 
prevailed. We weighed early next morning (30th), and by 
noon had reached so far to the westward that the easternmost 
of the round islands in Cape Tamar Bight’ bore north about 
two miles. By nightfall we were off Cape Cortado; but the 
weather seeming settled and the wind drawing to the south- 
ward, I resolved to keep under weigh, and try to get out to sea 
that night. Circumstances favoured us; the weather was fine, 
the moon remained unclouded, and the wind held at S.S.W. 
An hour after midnight Cape Pillar bore W.S.W., distant 
about two miles, and thence we shaped our course for the 
Evangelists, which we passed at the distance of a mile. 
“ The Evangelists, as they are called by the early Spanish 
voyagers, or as they were afterwards named (1670) by Sir 
John Narborough, the Isles of Direction,* are a group of four 
rocky islets, and some detached rocks and breakers, occupying 
altogether a space of three miles ; they are exceedingly rugged 
and barren, and suited only to afford a resting-place for seals 
and oceanic birds. From the heavy sea prevalent there, and the 
raging surf that generally breaks around, landing on them 
can be rarely practicable ; yet sealers effect it. The mate of a 
sealing vessel told me that he had landed on the largest in a 
whale-boat, and killed several thousand seals. The Evangelists 
are of sufficient height to be seen in clear weather from a ship’s 
deck, at the distance of six or seven leagues, but the superior 
elevation of the coast on both sides will usually render it 
visible, before these islands can be observed. 
‘Immediately on rounding the Evangelists a cape was dis- 
tinguished, appearing to terminate the northern coast line, 
which we made out to be ‘ Cape Isabel’ of the Spanish charts. 
It is a steep, rocky promontory of great height, having at its 
base some detached columnar masses of rock, and at its sum- 
mit a peak, and a serrated ridge ; off it is a steep-sided island, 
* Because they formed a capital leading mark for the Strait of Ma- 
galhaens. 
