Jan. 1830. deepwater soux^d— breaker ray* 



373 



ground with from ten to twenty fathoms here and there, but 

 not one that could be preferred to our islet, 



" 30th. One Fuegian family was found here, consisting of 

 a man and woman, with their children. During this day it 

 rained too hard for anything to be done out of the ship ; the 

 wind was moderate ; yet much as I disliked our rocky berth, 

 it could not be changed. 



" 31 St. Moderate wind, with clearer weather. Mr. Murray 

 and Mr. Stokes went away to different parts of the sound, 

 while I was employed near the ship. Observations for lati- 

 tude, longitude, and variation were made. 



"1st January. During part of the last night and this morn- 

 ing, the wind blew strongly in squalls, and made me very 

 anxious ; but the weather rendered it impossible to move volun- 

 tarily, for it was raining hard as well as blowing. At about 

 eight it cleared, and the wind shifted t-o the southward, when 

 we weighed, and worked down the sound ; but it was after 

 noon before we had cleared its entrance, and seven in the even- 

 ing before we were outside of all the breakers, the wind having 

 been light and contrary the whole time. 



" (2d.) At five this morning, being close to the Fincham 

 Islands, with clear weather, and a fresh breeze from the N.W., 

 we steered into Breaker Bay, towards a ragged-looking pro- 

 jecting point. Having approached as near as we could, and 

 sounded, and taken angles, we steered so as to pass outside of 

 some very outlying rocks, near the middle of the bay; for 

 in-shore of them, I saw from the mast-head numerous breakers, 

 rocks, and islets, in every direction. A worse place for a ship 

 could scarcely be found ; for, supposing thick weather to come 

 on when in the depth of the bay, she would have lurking 

 rocks and islets just awash with the water, on all sides of her, 

 and no guide to take her clear of them, for soundings would 

 be useless ; and in such weather, the best chart that could be 

 constructed would not help her. With this idea of the place, 

 and for reasons similar to those which induced me to pass has- 

 tily across Otway Bay, I steered for Cape Gloucester, after 

 passing the Midbay Rocks, at the distance of a quarter of a 



