408 



COOK MARCH HARBOUR. 



March 1830. 



February, notwithstanding the vexatious delays we had so 

 often experienced. 



" As we had not sufficiently examined the coast between this 

 sound and Gilbert Islands, I proposed sending Mr. Murray 

 there with the cutter, while I should go to the eastward, during 

 which time our new boat would be finished. 



"1st March. This morning I went to look for a better 

 anchorage for our vessel, that in which we lay being rather 

 exposed, and very small. Neither Pickersgill Cove nor Port 

 Gierke suited ; so I looked further, and found another harbour? 

 nearer to York Minster, easier of access for a ship arriving 

 from sea, and with a cove in^ one corner where a vessel could 

 lie in security, close to a woody point. Having sounded this 

 harbour, I returned to move our ship. Cook says, speaking 

 of Port Clerke, ' South of this inlet is another, which I did 

 not examine f — and into that inlet, named March Harbour^ 

 the Beagle prepared to go, but before we could weigh and 

 work to windward, the weather became bad, which made our 

 passage round the N.W. end of Shag Island rather difficult, 

 as we had to contend with squalls, rain, and a narrow passage 

 between rocks. The passage between Waterman Island and 

 the south end of Shag Island is more roomy ; but there is a 

 rock near the middle which had not then been examined. 

 We worked up to the innermost part of the harbour, and 

 moored close to a woodv point, in the most sheltered cove. 

 Finding this to be a very convenient spot for building our 

 boat, and in every point of view a good place for passing part 

 of the month of March, I decided to keep the Beagle here for 

 that purpose. This harbour might be useful to other vessels, 

 its situation being well pointed out by York Minster (one of 

 the most remarkable promontories on the coast), and affording 

 wood and water with as little trouble as any place in which the 

 Beagle had anchored. 



" March 2d. The master set out in the large cutter, with 

 a fortnight's provisions, to examine the coast between the north 

 part of Christmas Sound and Point Alikhoolip, near which 

 we passed on the 28th, without seeing much of it. With 



