Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.1): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

CHAPTER XXI. Skyring's chart — Noir Island — Penguins — Fuegians — Sarmiento — Townshend Harbour — Horace Peaks — Cape Desolation — Boat lost Basket — Search in Desolate Bay — Natives — Heavy gale — Surprise — Seizure — Consequences — Return to Beagle — Sail to Stewart Harbour — Set out again — Escape of Natives — Unavailing search — Discomforts — Tides — Nature of Coast — Doris Cove — Christmas Sound — Cook York-Minster — March Harbour — Build a boat — Treacherous rocks Skirmish with the Natives — Captives — Boat-memory — Petrel. " 25th. We weighed, and went round to Fury Harbour, for the carpenter and his cargo, and met him with a spar and a raft of plank, taken from the wreck. Having hoisted the boat up, and got the plank on board, we stood out towards the West Furies, by the wind ; my intention being either to sail round Noir Island, or anchor under it, before running to the eastward, in order that no part of the sea-coast might be left unexamined. We passed very near some of the rocks, but as the day was fine and the weather clear, a good look-out at the mast-head could be trusted. " Before leaving the vicinity of Mount Skyring, I should remark that the true bearing of Mount Sarmiento's summit, which I obtained from the top of Mount Skyring, laid off on Lieutenant Skyring's chart, passed as truly through his posi- tion of the summit as if the line had been merely drawn be- tween them. This is highly creditable to his work, for I know he did not himself see Mount Sarmiento, when upon Mount Skyring. " The breeze fi-eshened, and drew more to the westward to- wards evening, I had therefore no hopes of nearing Noir Island. We saw the Tower Rocks distinctly before dark, and stood on towards them until ten o"'clock, closing Scylla to avdfd Charybdis, for in-shoreof us lay all those scattered rocks.