Dec. 1829. 



CAPE DESEADO WEEK ISLANDS. 



36*5 



Deseado,' and that to the northward I called Chancery Point, 

 Mr. Wilson ascended some heights at the back of the harbour, 

 from which he saw many lakes, among barren and rugged hills ; 

 but a farther view was obstructed by other mountains. 



" An oar was picked up near the watering place, and recog- 

 nised by one of the men as the same which was left on a rock 

 near Cape Pillar (in Observation Cove) by Captain Stokes, in 

 January 1827. There could be no doubt of the fact, as the 

 man's initials were on the oar, and it is curious as a proof of 

 an outset along the south side of the Strait (near Cape Pillar), 

 and of its continuation along shore. Traces of a fire were found, 

 which showed that the natives visit even this most exposed part 

 of the coast. The land about here is high, and craggy ; and 

 very barren, except in the valleys, where much wood grows. 

 Some wild fowl were seen and shot. 



" From Cape Deseado, the coast is high and unbroken for 

 three miles ; (a rocky islet lies about a mile from the shore) 

 then there is an opening which probably leads into a good har- 

 bour behind a number of islands. Several islands succeed, for a 

 space of two miles, after which is Barrister Bay ; an exposed 

 place, full of islets, rocks, and breakers, extending nearly to 

 Murray Passage. In sailing along this coast we passed inside 

 of several breakers ; and, I hope, noted all that lie in the 

 offing : but, we cannot be sure, for breakers on rocks which 

 are under the surface of the sea do not always show themselves. 

 As it was getting dark, we hauled to the wind, near Cape Sun- 

 day, and, in doing so, were startled by a huge breaker which 

 suddenly foamed up at a small ship's length from us. Although 

 looking out on all sides we had not previously seen any break 

 near that spot. During the night we carried a heavy press of 

 sail to avoid being drifted to the S.E., and at daylight I 

 rejoiced to find that we had not lost ground, so we steered for 

 the land, and rounded Graves' Island. Observing several open- 

 ings, I hauled close round a point, and tried to enter one of 

 them ; the wind, however, baffled us, and our anchor was let 

 go in an exposed berth, but on good holding ground. We 

 found a cluster of islands with so many anchorages between 



