124 
CRUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
6th January land was reported : at first a small islet, 
known as Blight’s Cap, and afterwards the black, 
rough-looking coast of Kerguelen Land (or the 
Island of Desolation). Thick weather prevented ap- 
proach to the land until the next day, when it cleared 
sufficiently to run into port, when the anchor was 
let go in 18 fathoms, in Christmas Harbour. 
In this harbour Captain Cook, when in command 
of the expedition sent out to explore the South 
Seas, anchored his two vessels, the Resolution and 
Discovery , on Christmas Day 1777, and, although not 
the actual discoverer of the island, his were the first 
vessels to anchor in any of its numerous harbours. 
This inhospitable island and its surrounding group 
are very little known, although discovered over one 
hundred years ago by Lieutenant Kerguelen, who 
had been sent out from France on a voyage of 
discovery to determine the existence of the great 
Southern Continent, which the philosophers of that 
time considered was necessary to maintain the balance 
of the earth. It was on January 13th, 1772, that it 
was first seen, amidst fog and rain, when, in conse- 
quence of the tempestuous weather, landing was out 
of the question, and only a very cursory view was 
obtained of the land, when he was again driven to 
sea, and, on reaching France, gave such an exaggerated 
account of his discovery that he was sent out again 
the following year ; and it is from his second visit 
that our present knowledge of the group is chiefly 
