They all retired before dinner, and did not wait to partake of our Christmas cheer.  Indeed I believe no one invited them, and for good reasons; for their dirty persons, and the stench they carried about them, were enough to spoil the appetite of any European; and that would have been a real disappointment, as we had not experienced such fare for some time.  Roast and boiled geese, goose-pye, etc. was a treat little known to us; and we had yet some Madeira wine left, which was the only article of our provision that was mended by keeping.  So that our friends in England did not, perhaps, celebrate Christmas more cheerfully than we did.

On the 26th, little wind next to a calm, and fair weather, except in the morning, when we had some showers of rain.  In the evening, when it was cold, the natives made us another visit; and it being distressing to see them stand trembling and naked on the deck, I could not do less than give them some baize and old canvas to cover themselves.

Having already completed our water, on the 27th I ordered the wood, tent, and observatory to be got on board; and, as this was work for the day, a party of us went in two boats to shoot geese, the weather being fine and pleasant.  We proceeded round by the south side of Goose Island, and picked up in all thirty-one.  On the east side of the island, to the north of the east point, is good anchorage, in seventeen fathoms water, where it is entirely land-locked.  This is a good place for ships to lie in that are bound to the west.  On the north side of this isle I observed three fine coves, in which were both wood and water; but it being near night, I had no time to sound them, though I doubt not there is anchorage.  The way to come at them is by the west end of the island.

When I returned on board I found every thing got off the shore, and the launch in; so that we now only waited for a wind to put to sea.  The festival, which we celebrated at this place, occasioned my giving it the name of Christmas Sound.  The entrance, which is three leagues wide, is situated in the latitude of 55 deg. 27’ S., longitude 70 deg. 16’ W.; and in the direction of N. 37 deg.  W. from St Ildefonso Isles, distant ten leagues.  These isles are the best landmark for finding the sound.  York Minster, which is the only remarkable land about it, will hardly be known by a stranger, from any description that can be given of it, because it alters its appearance according to the different situations it is viewed from.  Besides the black rock, which lies off the end of Shag Island, there is another about midway between this and the east shore.  A copious description of this sound is unnecessary, as few would be benefited by it.  Anchorage, tufts of wood, and fresh-water, will be found in all the coves and harbours.  I would advise no one to anchor very near the shore for the sake of having a moderate depth of water, because there I generally found a rocky bottom.