1825. 



14 VOYAGE TO THE 



chap, for the advantage of being able to pursue an unin- 

 s^L^s terrupted course along the shore of Tierra del Fu- 

 sept. ego, which the flattering prospect of the preceding 

 day led us to expect, and which, had it not been for 

 the northerly current, would have been effected with 

 ease. The disappointment was of course very great, 

 particularly as the wind at the moment was more 

 favourable for rounding the cape than it usually is. 



In the evening, the Islands of Diego Ramirez 

 were seen on the weather bow ; and nothing re- 

 mained but to pursue the inner route, at the risk of 

 being caught upon a lee-shore with a gale of wind, 

 or stand back to the south-eastward, and lose in one 

 day what it would require perhaps a week to re- 

 cover. We adopted the former alternative, and 

 passed the Islands as close as it was prudent in a 

 dark night, striking soundings in deep water upon 

 an uneven bottom. 



The next morning, the small groupe of Ildefonzo 

 Islands was distant six miles on the lee-beam, and 

 the mainland of Tierra del Fuego appeared behind 

 it, in lofty ranges of mountains streaked with snow. 

 The cape mistaken for Cape Horn by Lord Anson 

 bore N. 49° E., and the promontory designated York 

 Minster by Captain Cook, W. by N. The coast was 

 bold, rocky, and much broken, and every here and 

 there deeply indented, as if purposely to afford a re- 

 fuge from the pitiless gales which occasionally beat 

 upon it. The general appearance of the landscape 

 was any thing but exhilarating to persons recently 

 removed from the delightful scenery of Rio Janeiro ; 

 and we were particularly struck with the contrast 

 between the romantic and luxurious scenery of that 

 place and the bleak coast before us, where the snow, 



