122 FROM ST. Catherine's to 



to do. We were surrounded by wliales, dolphins', 

 and albatrosses. While we were doubling Cape 

 Horn we were encountered by high storms from 

 S.W., which continued several days, and it was 

 not till the 1st of February, that we succeeded 

 in passing the latitude of Cape Victoria. We 

 triumphed : for now we had no fear of being 

 driven back by westerly storms. On the 11th, at 

 ten o'clock, P. M. we discovered land by moon- 

 light; this was the coast of Conception, in the 

 neighbourhood of the island of St, Mary. We lay- 

 to till day-break, and then stood in for the bay. I 

 give no description of the appearance of the coast, 

 nor of the entrance to the bay ; La Peyrouse has 

 said sufficient on the subject in his voyage. The 

 navigator may be confident of always finding, at 

 this season of the year, at a distance of two de- 

 grees from the coast, as well in this latitude as 

 also one degree more to the south, beautiful and 

 serene weather, and south wind ; but, on the con- 

 trary, if he go more to the west, he may expect to 

 find gloomy weather, and a north wind. It would, 

 therefore, be advisable for ships that intend sailing 

 up the coast, to approach it at once at 42", as they 

 will certainly accelerate their passage. But this 

 applies only to the summer ; because in winter 

 gloomy weather and north winds prevail. At noon 

 we found ourselves already at the entrance of Con- 

 ception Bay ; the wind blew from the south, on 



