380 AGNES ISLANDS—BREAKERS. Jan. 1830 
safe anchorage for other vessels, it is out of the question, being 
an exposed roadstead, with many rocks, both to seaward and 
in-shore. A sealer might use it, but not willingly I should 
think. As we ran towards the Agnes Islands, before a strong 
W.N.W. wind, many rocks and breakers showed themselves, 
and when we neared the islands, became numerous on each side 
of us. It would have been more prudent to have kept outside 
all of them; but I was anxious to find Hope Harbour, or run 
into the entrance of the Barbara Channel, and anchor in the 
north cove of Fury Island. Having passed the three Agnes 
Islands, and being nearly abreast of Cape Kempe,* our view 
became far from agreeable, for the sea, on all sides, seemed 
strewed with breakers ; and how to steer so as to pass between 
them was perplexing. We were at this time running free, under 
treble reefed topsails, with top-gallant yards and masts on deck ; 
the wind being strong from W.N.W., but the weather tolerably 
clear. Suddenly the boatswain hailed, *‘ Hard-a-port, a rock 
under the bows!’ Round the little vessel turned, almost as fast 
as the order was given ; but the thrill that shot through us was 
happily not the precursor of our destruction ; for the supposed 
rock proved to be a huge whale which had risen close to the 
bows, and was mistaken for the top of a rock by the boatswain, 
who was looking out on the forecastle, while I was at the 
mast-head, and the ‘hands’ were upon deck. This part of 
the coast, from the Agnes Islands to Cape Schomberg, is the 
worst I have seen, it is so very broken, and has so many rocks 
and dangerous breakers lying at a long distance from the 
shore. 
** At noon we were close to Fury Island ; but the wind fell 
and prevented our making much progress. Fury Harbour, 
where the Saxe Cobourg was lost, is a wild exposed place, and, 
as the bottom is bad, it ought to be avoided by all vessels: 
there is but one patch of good ground, and that is very small. 
‘* Passing round Fury Island, we entered the Barbara Chan- 
nel, at the entrance to which stands Mount Skyring, a high, 
peaked, and most barren mountain, visible at a great distance. 
* The three peaks, in-shore of Cape Kempe, are very remarkable. 
