TOWNSHEND HARBOUR- 



: DESOLATION. 



389 



carried us through Pratt Passage, which separates London 

 Island from Sydney Island, to an anchorage in a good harbour, 

 under a high peaked hill (Horace Peaks), which is a good 

 mark for it. Finding no soundings in the Passage as we 

 approached, gave us reason to be anxious ; but in the har- 

 bour, the bottom proved to be excellent, and the water only of a 

 moderate depth. As soon as we anchored, I tried to ascend 

 Horace Peaks, but returned without having reached their sum- 

 mits before dark ; however, I saw enough to give me a general 

 idea of the distribution of the land and water near us. I thought 

 that this anchorage would be favourable for ascertaining the 

 latitude of Cape Schomberg^ with exactness: having found a 

 considerable difference between our chart and that of Lieute- 

 nant Skyring, respecting the latitude of that promontory. 



Meanwhile I contemplated sending the master to a head- 

 land called by Cook, Cape Desolation, and which well deserves 

 the name, being a high, craggy, barren range of land. I was 

 not sorry to find myself in a safe anchorage, for the weather 

 seemed lowering ; and after being favoured with some moderate 

 days, we could not but expect a share of wind and rain. 



" 29th. This morning the weather looked as if we should be 

 repaid for the few fine days which we had enjoyed ; but as we 

 felt it necessary to work in bad weather as well as in good, it 

 did not prevent the master from setting out on his way to 

 Cape Desolation ; near which, as a conspicuous headland, whose 

 position would be of great consequence, he was to search for a 

 harbour, and obtain observations for connecting the survey. 

 He could not have been in a finer boat (a whale-boat built by 

 Mr, May, at San Carlos) ; and as he well knew what to do with 

 her, I did not feel uneasy for his safety, although after his 

 departure the wind increased rapidly, and towards evening 

 blew a hard gale. The barometer had not given so much warn- 

 ing as usual ; but it had been falling gradually since our arrival 

 in this harbour, and continued to fall. The sympiesometer had 

 been more on the alert, and had fallen more rapidly. 



" (30th.) A continued gale, with rain and thick weather 

 * A high mountain at the N.W. end of London Island. 



