164 ATPENDIX. 



round the circle ; tliey die away as they approach east ; and after an 

 interval of calm, more or less in duration, spring up gi-adually be- 

 tween north-east by east and north. Heavy tempests sometimes 

 blow, from west-north-west to south-west ; and those winds blowing 

 directly on shore are most to be guarded against. As to the tides, 

 they are simple and uniform in the extreme. High water, at fuU and 

 change, takes place within half an hour of noon, from Valdivia to 

 Landfall Island ; and the rise of tide is every where, on the outer 

 coasts Avithin those hmits, nearly the same, namely, from four to 

 eight feet. In the offing no stream of tide is any where discernible, 

 and even close to the land it does not exceed one knot, or at most 

 two knots an hour. On this extent of coast what Httle current is 

 felt, sets southward, except during or before strong or lasting sou- 

 therly winds : its influence is, however, but trifling, upon a ship out 

 of soundings.* A heavy swell, from the westward, drives in upon all 

 the coast. A barometer is invaluable. 



No. 20. 



El Presidente de la Republica de Chile, &c. 



El Senor Roberto Fitz-Roy, comandante del buque de su Mages- 

 tad Britiinica Beagle ha recibido de su Gobierno el encargo de reco- 

 nocer estas Costas y levantar mapas de eUas ; y el Gobierno de Chile 

 desea franquear a una operacion de tan conocida utihdad para la 

 navegacion y comercio, y para el adelantamiento de las ciencias, 

 todas las facihdades y auxihos que de el dependan. En su conse- 

 cuencia, ordeno a todos los Intendentes de Provincia, Gobemadores 

 Departamentales, Jueces de Districto y demas empleados y Ciuda- 

 danos per cuyos territories transitare el Comandante Fitz-Roy que 

 no solo se le ponga embarazo para que entre con su buque en 

 todos los puertos, bahias y radas de la Republica que le pareciere 

 conveniente a su empresa, saltando a tierra y ejecutando en ella 

 los reconocimientos y operaciones que crea necesarias, sino que se 

 le proporcione todo el favor de que pueda menester ; haciendo y 

 procurando se le haga la mas amistosa acojida por todos los funci- 



* By the term out of soundings, I mean in deeper water than three 

 hundred fathoms. 



