432 VISIT THE SUMMIT OF CAPE HORN. ApHi 1830. 



Cove. I afterwards went in a boat to Horn Island, to ascer- 

 tain the nature of the landing, and whether it was practicable 

 to carry any instruments to the summit of the Cape. Many 

 places were found where a boat might land ; and more than 

 one spot where she could be hauled ashore : so that taking in- 

 struments to the summit did not seem likely to be a very diffi- 

 cult task. As the weather continued favourable I returned on 

 board that night, and the next morning (19th) arranged for a 

 visit to Cape Horn ; a memorial having been previously pre- 

 pared, and securely enclosed in a stone jar. 



After taking observations at noon for latitude, we set out, 

 carrying five days* provisions, a good chronometer, and other 

 instruments. We landed before dark, hauled our boat up in 

 safety on the north-east side, and established ourselves for the 

 night on Horn Island. 



" 20th. At daybreak we commenced our walk across the 

 island, each carrying his load ; and by the time the sun was 

 high enough for observing, were near the summit, and exactly 

 in its meridian ; so we stopped while I took two sets of sights 

 and a round of angles. Soon afterwards we reached the highest 

 point of the Cape, and immediately began our work ; I and my 

 coxswain, with the instruments ; and Lieut. Kempe with the 

 boat''s crew raising a pile of stones over the memorial. 



" At first the Diego Ramirez Islands were seen, but before 

 I could get the theodolite fixed and adjusted, the horizon be- 

 came hazy. At noon satisfactory sets of circum-meridional 

 altitudes were obtained with two good sextants. A round of 

 angles, compass bearings for the variation, and good afternoon 

 sights for time completed our success. The pile made over our 

 memorial was eight feet high, and in it were stones which 

 required the united exertions of all seven men to raise to the 

 top. We drank the health of His Majesty King George the 

 Fourth, and gave three hearty cheers, standing round the 

 Union Jack. Directly all was finished we travelled towards 

 our boat as fast as possible : but darkness surrounded us before 

 we were more than half-way. Those who had loads which 

 would not be hurt by tumbling about among bushes, travelled 



