cipices, and craggy summits spiring up to a vast height, without the least vestige of vegetation. In the interior, the mountains were covered with snow, but not on the coast.
An island to the south of Cape Desolation was called Gilbert Isle, after the Master. About 19 leagues to the south of this isle, a lofty promontory was seen, terminating in a romantic rock, presenting the appearance of two high towers with a sugar-loaf hill between; and this rock, from a very natural association of ideas, the Captain named York Minster. Finding an opening on the east side of this promontory, he stood in for the land, in the evening of the 20th: and although in some parts of the entrance he found no bottom, he afterwards met with good anchorage; and next morning moved the ship into a comfortable cove, where there was a valley covered with wood, and a stream of fresh water. Here the Resolution remained a week, and this being Christmas time, the inlet was named Christmas Sound. The greater part of this Sound, which is of considerable extent, was carefully surveyed by the Captain and his officers. It contains a number of islands: that where the ship was anchored was termed Shag Island, as it abounded with shags; and another opposite to it, much frequented by geese, was named Goose Island. Numbers of coves, or harbours, were found, affording safe anchorage, with wood and water. A large one, to the west of Shag Island, was called Port Clerke; and another, adjoining to it on the north, Pickersgill Cove.
On the day after the Resolution arrived here, a serious accident happened; one of the marines fell overboard out of the head, and was drowned. In
