316 APPENDIX, 



June and July are much alike, but easterly gales blow more 

 during July. The days being so short, and the weather cold, make 

 these two months very impleasant, though they are, perhaps, the 

 best for making a speedy passage to the westward, as the wind is 

 then prevalent from the eastern quarter. 



I should say that December and January are the best for making 

 a passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean, though that passage 

 is so short and easily made, that it hardly requires a choice of time. 

 For going to the westward, I should prefer April, May, or June, 

 and should wait for a wind. 



Lightning and thunder are seldom known : violent squalls come 

 from the south or south-west, giving warning of their approach by 

 masses of clouds. They are rendered more formidable by snow and 

 hail of a large size. 



There is a continual current setting along the south-west coast of 

 Tierra del Fuego, from the north- west towards the south-east, as far 

 as the Diego Ramirez Islands. From their vicinity the current takes 

 a more easterly direction, setting round Cape Horn towards Staten 

 Island, or off to seaward to the E.S.E. 



Much has been SEiid of the strength of this current ; some persons 

 supposing that it is a serious obstacle in passing to the westward of 

 Cape Horn, whUe others almost deny its existence. 



We found it run at the average rate of a nule an hour. Its strength 

 is greater during west, — ^less or insensible during easterly winds. It 

 is strongest near the land, particularly near the projecting capes or 

 detached islands. 



This current sets rather from the land, which diminishes the dan- 

 ger of approacliing the south-west parts of the coast : but there is, 

 in fact, much less risk in approaching this coast than is generally 

 supposed. Being high and bold, without sandbanks or shoals, its 

 position accurately determined, and a bank of soundings extending 

 twenty or thirty miles from the shore, it need not be much feared. 

 Rocks, it is true, abound near the land, but they are very near to 

 the shore, and out of a ship's way. 



A Une from point to point along the coast (beginning from the 

 outermost Apostle), will clear all danger, excepting the Tower Rocks, 

 which are steep to, and high above water. 



The preceding notices were written by me in 1 830, and I have not 

 found it necessary to alter them materially. Taken in connection wth 



