Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/237

1840 the high lands to the westward, with astonishing force; the more dangerous from succeeding the light and baffling winds that occupy the intervals between the squalls. This occurrence of sudden and violent rushes of wind is a remarkable characteristic phenomenon of all the islands in about this latitude. We observed it at Kerguelen Island, at Auckland Island, and at Campbell Island; and the trees of the latter island especially indicate, by their prostrate position, the prevailing power of the westerly storms. The harbour is about four miles in depth, running for more than two miles in a W.N.W. direction, and thence after passing a shoal point, with a warning bed of sea-weed off it, about W.S.W. to its head. In the outer part of the harbour the water is too deep for convenient anchorage, but in the upper part, which is completely land-locked, there is abundance of room for a hundred ships to lie in the most perfect security, and where wood and excellent water can be had in any quantity. After four hours of hard work, beating through the outer arm of the harbour, we stood up to the head of it, and were just about to let go our anchor, when we perceived the ship stirring up the mud, and she soon after stuck fast. Some hawsers were run out to the trees on the shore; the ship warped off, and anchored in five and a half fathoms. At this time we observed the Terror aground on the shoal point above-mentioned, and immediately sent our boats to her assistance; but the tide was falling so fast that all