258 
CBULSE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGES. 
Straits, when all risk ceases, and the open sea is 
gained. The weather for some days was dull, gloomy, 
and squally, with showers of very heavy rain, so that 
but little progress could be, made to the eastward ; 
frequent soundings and occasional dredgings were 
made from an average depth of 2000 fathoms, with 
but scanty results. 
Finding the prospect of being able to reach Green- 
wich Island getting more and more improbable, it 
was decided on the 21st February to shape a course 
for New Guinea ; and later in the day we crossed the 
Equator for the fourth time. In the afternoon of 
the 23rd we sighted Mount Cyclops, in New Guinea ; 
this is a high serrated ridge, rising 6000 feet from the 
level of the sea, and covered with dense tropical 
forests up to its summit. Shortly after, Cape Caillie 
and Cape Bonpland came into view ; they are two 
rocky bluffs which mark the entrance into Humboldt 
Bay, so named by Dumont d’Urville, who, in com- 
mand of the Astrolabe , visited this part of Papua 
in August 1827 ; the only other vessel recorded is 
the Dutch war-steamer Etna , which anchored here 
in 1858. Opposite to Mount Cyclops rises Mount 
Bourgainville, over 4000 feet high, most lovely and 
fertile, springing abruptly from the ocean, with its 
green heights piled gracefully together, presenting 
a mass of evergreen vegetation most inviting to 
the eye. This was our first view of the shores of 
New Guinea, and all gazed with profound interest at 
