408 €00K—MARCH HARBOUR, Mareh 1830. 
February, notwithstanding the vexatious delays we had so 
often experienced. 
*“¢ As we had not sufficiently examined the coast between this 
sound and Gilbert Islands, I proposed sending Mr. Murray 
there with the cutter, while I should go to the eastward, during 
which time our new boat would be finished. 
“Ist March. This morning I went to look for a better 
anchorage for our vessel, that in which we lay being rather 
exposed, and very small. Neither Pickersgill Cove nor Port 
Clerke suited ; so I looked further, and found another harbour, 
nearer to York Minster, easier of access for a ship arriving 
from sea, and with a cove in, one corner where a vessel could 
lie in security, close to a woody point. Having sounded this 
harbour, T returned to move our ship. Cook says, speaking 
of Port Clerke, ‘ South of this inlet is another, which I did 
not examine :'—and into that inlet, named March Harbour, 
the Beagle prepared to go, but before we could weigh and 
work to windward, the weather became bad, which made our 
passage round the N.W. end of Shag Island rather difficult, 
as we had to contend with squalls, rain, and a narrow passage 
between rocks. The passage between Waterman Island and 
the south end of Shag Island is more roomy ; but there is a 
rock near the middle which had not then been examined. 
We worked up to the innermost part of the harbour, and 
moored close to a woody point, in the most sheltered cove. 
Finding this to be a very convenient spot for building our 
boat, and in every point of view a good place for passing part 
of the month of March, I decided to keep the Beagle here for 
that purpose. This harbour might be useful to other vessels, 
its situation being well pointed out by York Minster (one of 
the most remarkable promontories on the coast), and affording 
wood and water with as little trouble as any place in which the 
Beagle had anchored. 
“March 2d. The master set out in the large cutter, with 
a fortnight’s provisions, to examine the coast between the north 
part of Christmas Sound and Point Alikhoolip, near which 
we passed on the 28th, without seeing much of it. With 
