On the Navigation of Cape Horn. 55 



distressing the ship with labor. In that succeeding a storm, vessels 

 sometimes roll their masts away* 



To determine upon the best route for doubling Cape Horn, has 

 been a desideratum of the first importance to South Sea navigators. 

 Many opinions have been advanced on the subject, but down to the 

 present time, no route has been proposed, nor directions given, which 

 have received general approbation, or have met with the concurrence 

 of those, whose experience in Cape Horn navigation, gives value to 

 their opiuions. 



The routes, which have been most recommended, and which have 

 been followed with most success, have resolved themselves into 

 two — the " inshore" and the " southern." The former is peferable 

 and more expeditious, when the winds are favorable for sailing west- 

 wardly. The latter should be taken, when gales from the westward 

 are encountered, while doubling the Cape. By standing to the south- 

 ward in such cases, the track of the violent winds, that come sweep- 

 ing around the extremity of the land, from the west and northwest 

 will be crossed ; sometimes it does not reach further to the south 

 than 57° 30' lat., it seldom extends beyond 63° south lat. 



The absence of regular periodical winds in the vicinity of the 

 Cape, contributes to the embarrassment of opinion with regard to the 



most expeditious route for doubling it. . 



No general directions can be given, which will invariably point 

 out the best course for a vessel to steer, while passing the boisterous 

 region. This is prevented by the uncertainty of the winds, in regard 

 both to their strength and the direction in which they may blow. 

 But under the guidance of certain circumstances to be pointed out, 

 the navigator may be greatly assisted in conducting his vessel in safe- 

 ty through the tempestuous sea connecting the Pacific with the At- 

 lantic. 



) From peculiar circumstances connected with the western gales 

 that blow around the Cape, there is reason to believe, that they do 

 not extend far beyond it, with equal violence, and that they are strong- 

 est in its vicinity. It is a phenomenon occurring not unfrequemly 

 under the observations of sailors, that the same gale does not always 

 blow over extensive tracts of the ocean. Ships, a few leagues apart, 

 are sailing sometimes at the same moment, with winds of unequal 

 strength and even from different directions; of this a case which oc- 

 curred in 1829 can be instanced ; one vessel was dismasted in a gale, 

 when another only a few leagues from her, was sailing in fine weath- 



