1839.J CAPE HORN. 65 



the 13th of February, with all their canvas spread. It was 

 a beautiful day, and the weather continued favorable till 

 they reached the cape. 



" Be it fair or foul, rain or shine ;" — 



in all weathers, at all times and seasons, Cape Horn is a 

 terror to the mariner ; and many and marvellous are the 

 tales of peril and danger spun in the forecastle, as this 

 dreaded promontory is approached, and the hoarse wail of 

 the beating surf that spends its fury upon its rocky sides, is 

 heard rising over the waters. In favorable weather, vessels 

 sail within a short distance of it, in perfect safety ; but when 

 the storm-king "holds high revel there," as wide a berth as 

 possible is given to this formidable breakwater which nature 

 has reared against the fury of the Atlantic* 



The cape is situated in latitude 55° 58' south. It is 

 a conical, jagged peak, of trachytic rock, rising at the 

 southern end of Hermit Island. The latter is two or three 

 miles in length, and behind it there is a line of rocks extend- 

 ing towards the north. Between it and Tierra del Fuegb, 

 there are several long, high, and narrow islands, which are 

 covered with snow during the whole year. Cape Horn, how- 

 ever, is not the southernmost land in this quarter. The 

 Diego Ramirez Islands, a small cluster of sea-holms, on one 

 of which is False Cape Horn, are 34' further south. 



(7.) On the 16th of February, the Squadron .passed the 

 "stormy cape," within a few miles of the shore; — most of 

 the vessels having their studding sails set on both sides — 

 and were soon lifted upon the long rolling swell of the 

 Pacific — " the summer sea." The 17th was cloudy and 

 nearly calm; and the day and night following were spent in 

 beating through the passage between Hermit Island and 

 False Cape Horn, and from thence into Nassau Bay, an 



* Vessels are often compelled to go as high as the sixtieth degree of southern 

 latitude, in order to double the cape. 



