Jan. 1830. Isabella island — Hopii haubour. 



379 



" ISth. We weighed and left the harbour, but the morning 

 proved too hazy to allow of our running down the coast, there- 

 fore until eight oVlock we kept under easy sail in the roads. 

 Being clear and moderate after that time, we passed Leading 

 Island, and hove-to, to watch for a breaker near it. It broke 

 but twice during the hour that we waited, therefore probably 

 there is water enough to allow any vessel to pass in safety. At 

 ten we bore up, and ran towards Isabella Island ; my first 

 object being to look for a place called by sealers ' Hope Har- 

 bour,' which, from what I could learn, ought to lie thei-e- 

 abouts. Its situation was not recognised by our boatswain, (/i) 

 who had been in it when sealing on this coast ; so passing close 

 to Isabella Island, we hauled our wind under the lee of the land, 

 and came to an anchor in fifteen fathoms, sheltered from north 

 to S. W. b. S. A high peaked hill, over the cove where I took 

 observations, made this a suitable place for the business of the 

 survey. Mr. Murray went up the height, while Mr. Stokes 

 and I were employed near the water, till rain set in and drove 

 us on board. This is the easternmost of the Grafton Islands. 

 Beyond the channel, which separates them from the main body 

 of islands, appeared a succession of broken land, not very 

 high, but reaching apparently to a distant range of snowy 

 mountains. The part nearest to us was a labyrinth of islets and 

 rocks. Towards night the wind increased much, and drew to 

 the S.W. and S.W. b. S. I was doubtful of our anchorage, and 

 had the wind drawn one point more to the southward, we should 

 have had a heavy sea to deal with, and must have slipped our 

 cable. 



"14th. Itmoderated again, and the sun showed himself enough 

 to enable us to get sights, and be on board in time to weigh at 

 nine. We had reason to think a sealing vessel had been alon"- 

 this coast not long before us, by the traces our boats found in 

 several places. Indians also had frequented these islands, for 

 their wigwams were found everywhere. Observations on shore 

 made our anchoring here of some consequence, although as a 



rkj Mr. Sorrell, formerly with Mr. Wcddell, and since that time with 

 Mr. Brisbane.— R. F. 



