SOUTHERN CRUISE. 157 



chart ; and I thought that the passage into the strait was more feasible, 

 and might be sooner accomplished by that route than by taking the 

 eastern passage, particularly as the wind was favourable. I also 

 thought it would enable them to explore more parts of the straits, and 

 those which had been least visited. 



Various difficulties prevented her reaching the entrance to the 

 Brecknock Passage, principally that of keeping too far off the coast 

 on long tacks to the southward. 



On the 17th of March, after being at sea twenty days, they ap- 

 proached the coast, and a gale ensuing from the southwest, Lieutenant- 

 Commandant Long, on the following day, determined to run in and 

 anchor under Noir Island, which is spoken of by King as an excellent 

 harbour. The wind was blowing a gale from the southwest, with 

 thick weather and hail-squalls. Noir Island was discovered under the 

 lee, judged to be about twelve miles distant, when they steered for it. 

 It becoming thick, they did not discover the Tower Rocks until they 

 were almost up with, and just had time to clear them. These rocks 

 presented a magnificent and fearful sight, the sea breaking completely 

 over them. Three anchors were prepared. They rounded the south- 

 east point of the island, and stood in for the bay. At about five o'clock 

 they anchored in seventeen fathoms, and the anchor took effect. 



On the morning of the 19th, the highest point of Noir Island was 

 seen, capped with snow; the wind had abated somewhat, but not 

 enough to permit of their landing in a snug little cove abreast of them. 

 In the afternoon the wind again increased, and another anchor was 

 let go. There was much sea, and the ship rode very uneasy at her 

 anchor. The sea broke tremendously on the reef astern, shooting up 

 in columns, such as are seen to appear under the effect of mirage. 

 After it became dark, the wind shifted to the southward and eastward, 

 which brought the sea from that quarter, and exposed them more both 

 to it and the wind. The anchors shortly after began to drag, and the 

 vessel was urged in the direction of a rock. Fortunately the wind 

 abated towards morning, and came from its old quarter^ southwest, 

 more off the land, but still blew with violence. 



On the morning of the 20th, one of their chain cables was found to 

 have parted. The chain was hove in with some difficulty, and another 

 anchor let go. The weather towards evening became again threaten- 

 ing, and produced no little. anxiety. At nightfall it shifted in the same 

 way it had done the previous evening, blowing again heavily. The 

 ship was felt to be constantly dragging, accompanied by that grating 

 kind of noise of the chain moving on the bottom, which is any thing 

 but agreeable. The rock astern, together with the reef toward which 



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