THE HE ABB ISLANDS. 
131 
under sail, and found to be a cluster of black, inhos- 
pitable, precipitous cliffs ; Meyer’s Rock and Mac- 
donald Islets having quite a singular appearance. 
A thick fog again concealed them from us, but having 
bearings we proceeded until they appeared through 
the haze at less than five miles distant, and we were 
enabled to run along their eastern side, which pre- 
sented truly a rough and rugged scene. These 
islands, some 400 or 500 feet high, were perfectly 
inaccessible, not presenting a point along their 
rugged shores where it was possible to land. We 
passed on, and another 20 miles disclosed a very 
remarkable headjand, which we found out afterwards 
was known as Rogers’ Head. As the roadstead was 
approached, the squalls came down with great violence, 
threatening to blow us to sea again ; but having 
steam at command, we were able to hold our way, 
and eventually reached the anchorage in Corinthian 
Bay (or Whisky Bay of the whalers, so named from 
the quantities of that spirit said to be consumed by 
them on the arrival of their store-ship with sup- 
plies for the year). All the places previously 
visited, however inhospitable, really seemed paradise 
compared with this wretched mountain of ice rising 
from a base of black lava cinder. This largest island, 
off which we are at anchor, is said to have its 
mountainous peak some 7000 feet high : we had no 
means, however, of judging, for the top was never 
free from cloud and mist during our stay. Here 
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