Island, which we had been informed extended as far as the 47th degree of latitude.
During the night the wind increased to a strong breeze from the westward, with thick weather, and we were obliged to carry a heavy press of sail to clear the land under our lee, which we had scarcely accomplished when a south-westerly gale came on.
April 27.Although still very foggy at times, we were enabled to bear away at 10 a.m., and having passed over the assigned position of Possession Island, we saw the land at 5 p.m. through the haze, five or six miles distant, but daylight was now almost gone; we nevertheless stood towards it, until darkness closed the scene, when the ship was hauled off for the night.
April 28.The morning was more clear, when, as the day broke, between six and seven o'clock, we perceived the lofty mountains of East Island four or five leagues directly to windward of us, so much had we been carried to the eastward during the night. The whole day was spent in beating up against the current and strong westerly breeze, and at sunset we were still several miles from the shore.
I could not but regret this serious loss of time, but having appointed Possession Island our first rendezvous, until the end of this month, in case of parting from the Terror, I wished to communicate with one or other of the sealing parties, to ascertain whether they had seen her off the islands. I was still more anxious to land the provisions which I had on board for the winter stock of those people