It was this extremely tempestuous weather which prevented a more extensive survey of the island. Lieutenant Bird, with two boats under his command, examined White's Bay, and with the assistance of Mr. Tucker and Mr. Davis surveyed several of its harbours. Lieutenant Philips examined Cumberland Bay, and crossed from the head of it over to the west coast, but was unable to trace it beyond a few miles, owing to the swampy nature of the land. Mr. McCormick and Mr. Robertson accompanied these expeditions to examine the geological and zoological productions of the country. But the severe weather they experienced kept us all in a state of anxiety about them the whole time of their absence, and the little they could accomplish was but too dearly purchased by so much suffering and exposure, and deterred me from permitting any further prosecution of their labours.
The anchorages in Cumberland Bay are much superior to those of Christmas Harbour, and are not exposed to such violent winds; they are, however, not of so ready access, and could only be entered in clear and moderate weather.
There are also several good harbours in White's Bay, of which accurate plans were made by Mr. Davis, and will be published by the Admiralty, with the chart of Kerguelen Island.
The rise and fall of tide in Christmas Harbour is remarkably small, not on any occasion amounting to more than thirty inches, and the usual spring tides are generally less than two feet; the neap tide