156 



EVANGELIST ISLES. 



March 



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 IsabeP 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. 



