60 On the Navigation of Cape Horn. 



If driven off the coast before reaching the Islands, it is better to 

 beat up to it, to the northward, than to pass down south, to the east- 

 ward of them, after the gale abates. There are circumstances under 

 which the outside passage would prove the more expeditious, but their 

 presence cannot be known by description ; the situation of the vessel, 

 the direction of the winds, the appearance of the weather, etc. are 

 the guides for pointing out the proper time for the outside passage, and 

 they frequently deceive seamen, who have never made a voyage 

 around Cape Horn. 



The probability of meeting westerly gales to the south, after 

 having passed to the east of the Islands, and the sufferings to which 

 the ship's company is liable in them, are sufficient reasons why pref- 

 erence should be given to the passage between the Islands and the 

 Main. The coast and the soundings along it, are clear and regular. 



When the wind is fair, Cape St. John's should be doubled close 

 around, and all canvass crowded on the ship, to carry her to the west 



as fast as possible. The difficulty of the passage consists in getting 

 from Staten Land to 85° west. 



If on clearing St. John's, or making Hermit's Island, a gale be 

 met from the westward, the vessel, unless she could clear all danger 

 by standing to the northward and westward, should be kept constant- 

 ly on the starboard tack, until she either forges out of the range of 

 the gale, or arrives in lat. 63°. With the easterly winds to the 

 south, she can run to 85° west, whence she can steer north to 40° 

 as previously directed. 



If it be necessary to go to 63° south, before the winds will allow 

 the vessel to stand to the westward, she should make her westing to 

 the southward of 60° ; if she gets out of the strength of the gale, be- 

 fore she reaches 63°, she can run up her westing on the parallel up- 

 on which she may be, or as near it, as the breeze will allow. It is al- 

 ways advisable to be in Ion. 85° before attempting to pass to the 

 northward of Cape Horn. 



The U. S. S. Falmouth, and H. B. M. S. Volage, doubled Cape 

 Horn in Oct. 1831 ; the latter had thirty eight the former twenty four 

 days from the Cape to the lat. of Talcahuana. Both of them took a 

 westerly gale off the pitch of the Cape. The Falmouth stood 

 down on the starboard tack to 62° 5' S. and found the winds more 

 favorable. The Volage, persisting in the attempt to gain the " in- 

 shore" passage, lay to on either tack, to preserve her relative position 



with regard to the lat. of the Cape, and was drifted off to the east- 



