NAUTICAL REMARKS. 393 



this passage ran to the south-east to the latitude 46o S., then 

 north two days, and from 48o to 57" S., between N.W. and 

 S. W., at the rate of tliirteen miles a day. From 57<^ S. and 

 long. 68" W., they ran to the N.E., until we had passed the 

 Cape, and then westerly and north-westerly to the Falkland 

 Islands. Off the River Plate they ran to the S.W. and S. 

 On our arrival at Rio Janeiro the whole effect of the current 

 from Coquimbo was S. 62° W. eighty-two miles. 



From the experience of these two passages round the Horn, 

 1 am of opinion that a ship lx)und to the Pacific should pass 

 inside the Falkland Islands, and round Staten Land, as 

 closely as possible ; as she will most likely encounter S.W, 

 winds directly the Pacific is open. A north-west wind off the 

 Falklands will, I think, generally veer to W. and S.W. on 

 approaching Staten Land. With S.W. winds off Staten 

 Land, nothing is left of course but to stand to the southward. 

 I should not, however, recommend keeping this board longer 

 than to get an offing, except westing was to be made by it ; 

 and if not, I would go about dii'ectly a mile of longitude was 

 to be gained on the in-shore tack ; avoiding, however, a near 

 approach to Terra del Fuego, eastward of Cape Horn, on 

 account of the north-east set through Strait Le Maire, with 

 southerly winds. I see no good reason for going to a high 

 southern latitude, if it can be avoided without loss of lonffi- 

 tude. With regard to the fact, that gales of wind are stronger 

 near the land, I own I cannot concur in such an opinion. 

 On a comparison of the Blossom's passage out with that of a 

 brig commanded by a Lieutenant Parker, which rounded the 

 Horn at the same time, it appeared that whilst she was expe- 

 riencing strong winds and heavy seas, which washed away 

 some of her boats, the Blossom, close in with the land, had 

 fine moderate weather, and no other indication of the gales 

 the Hellespont was encountering than by a long southerly 

 swell setting upon the shore ; and that the Blossom had the 

 advantage of a westerly current, while the brig was put back 

 twenty miles daily by one in the opposite direction. 



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