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CBUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGES. 
French surveying expedition. In the haze which 
surrounded them at that time he thought he had dis- 
covered the Southern Continent, as they seemed to 
be some miles in extent, with hills rising in double 
and triple ranges, the summits of which were covered 
with snow. About five years after this Captain Cook 
sailed through this same channel, and not knowing 
of their previous discovery, named them Prince 
Edward Islands, in compliment to the Duke of Kent. 
From this date but very little was known or written 
about the islands until Sir J. C. Ross visited them 
in April 1840. Sealing schooners have called here 
from time to time from the Cape, but of late without 
any success. 
On the 31st December, after a succession of strong 
north-westerly winds, the first of the Crozet group 
of islands was seen ; but the weather prevented any 
hope which might have been indulged in of effecting 
a landing ; however, the islands, six in number, were 
all seen, and their correct position ascertained. It 
is over one hundred years ago that they were dis- 
covered and reported. Possessing no interest in a 
geographical point of view, and having no resources, 
they are therefore more to be avoided than ap- 
proached. Very little is known about them, for Sir 
J. C. Ross’s expedition was unable to land in 1843, 
and now the Challengers was equally unfortunate. 
Later in the day the lofty mountain of East Island 
was seen through the haze, and on it clearing we had 
