406 STEWART HARBOUR—DORIS COVE. Feb. 1830. 
noticed, that there are two rocks nearly in the middle of the 
harbour, which are just awash at high water. A heavy swell 
is generally found outside, owing to the comparatively shallow 
water, in which there are soundings to about three miles from 
the Cape. In the entrances are from ten to twenty fathoms, 
therefore if the wind should baffle, or fail, an anchor may be 
dropped at any moment. 
“‘In my last search among the Gilbert Islands, I found a 
good harbour for shipping, conveniently situated for carrying 
on the survey, in a place which otherwise I should certainly 
have overlooked : and to that harbour I decided on proceeding. 
‘* For two miles to the eastward of Stewart Harbour, the 
shore projects, and is rocky and broken, then it retreats, 
forming a large bay, in which are the Gilbert Islands, and 
many rocky islets. We passed between Gilbert and Stewart 
Islands, anchored at noon under a point at the west entrance 
of the passage, and in the afternoon moved the Beagle to Doris 
Cove, and there moored her. 
“‘ [ had decided to build another boat as quickly as possible, 
for I found it so much the best way to anchor the vessel in a 
safe place and then work with the boats on each side, that 
another good one was most necessary. Our cutter required 
too many men, and was neither so handy, nor could she pull to 
windward so well as a whale-boat; and our small boat was 
only fit for harbour duty. The weather on this coast was gene- 
rally so thick and blowing, as not to admit of any thing like 
exact surveying while the vessel was under sail: the swell 
alone being usually too high to allow of a bearing being taken 
within six or eight degrees: and the sun we seldom saw. If 
caught by one of the very frequent gales, we might have been 
blown so far to the eastward that I know not how much time 
would have been lost in trying to regain our position. ‘These 
coasts, which are composed of islands, allow boats to go a long 
distance in safety, and, from the heights near the sea, rocks 
and breakers may be seen, and their places ascertained, much 
better than can possibly be done at sea. For building a new 
boat we had all the materials on board, except prepared plank; 
