120 BELLACO—RIVER GALLEGOS. Jan. 1828. 
been examining the whole coast between Port Desire and Cape 
Virgins, and for the last ten days had been detained in the 
Gallegos River by heavy gales of wind. He had sounded 
round, and fixed the position of the Bellaco Rock, or St. Este- 
van’s Shoal, the existence of which had been so long doubted. 
He had also visited and partially surveyed, the harbours of 
Port San Julian and Santa Cruz, besides Coy Bay, and had 
made almost a complete survey of the River Gallegos, which 
he found to be a large and rapid river, whose entrance forms 
a spacious port: instead of being blocked up by a mound 
of shingle four or five feet above the level of the sea, and 
having so small a stream as to escape the notice of Mr. Weddell 
as he walked along the beach.* Cape Fairweather is so remark- 
able, and so correctly placed upon the chart, that Mr. Weddell, 
in his search for the river, must have very much deceived 
himself. I should think he must have mistaken the ravine 
described upon my former visit, since that is the only part 
which answers his description: it could not be Coy Bay, be- 
cause that opening, although of minor importance, has a broad 
boat communication with the sea. 
Captain Stokes described the tide at the anchorage, within 
the mouth of the Gallegos, as running at the rate of five knots, 
and rising forty-six feet. From Mr. Weddell’s account, he was 
on the point of passing by without examining it; but the wea- 
ther being fine, he determined to go in his boat and ascertain 
the truth of that description. It was soon evident that the 
river was large, and, returning to his ship, he lost no time in 
anchoring her within the entrance, where she rode out a heavy 
gale from S.W. 
The Beagle left the Gallegos on the 23d, and reached Port 
Famine on the 28th, a very short passage, since she remained 
for a night and the greater part of a day at Gregory Bay, to 
communicate with the natives. When approaching the First 
Narrow, Captain Stokes observed a brig, apparently at anchor, 
under Cape Orange, and supposing her either to have found 
a good anchorage, or to be in distress, steered towards her, 
* Weddeil’s Voyage. 
