March 1828. sANTA LUCIA—MADRE DE DIOs. 157 
which proved to be that (Beagle Island) of which Lieut. Sky- 
ring and I took the bearing last year, when we were on the 
summit of Cape Victory. 
‘“‘ Northward of Cape Victory the land forms a deep bight, 
of which Cape Santa Lucia is the north-eastern headland. The 
coast in the interval is exceedingly rugged and mountainous. 
Cape Santa Lucia may be distinguished by a portion of flat 
table-land, about one-third of the altitude of the mountain 
from which it proceeds, and terminating at its outer face with 
a perpendicular precipice. 
“© The coast between Capes Isabel and Santa Lucia is dan- 
gerous to approach nearer than ten miles, for there are within 
that distance many sunken rocks, on which the sea only occa- 
sionally breaks. Some of these breakers were seen to seaward 
of us, as we proceeded along the coast, at the distance of five 
or six miles. When off Santa Lucia, whales were very numer- 
ous around us. 
“‘ The general aspect of this portion of the coast is similar to 
that of the most dreary parts of the Magalhaenic regions: bare, 
rugged, rocky, and mountainous, intersected by inlets, and 
bordered by islets, rocks, and breakers. 
“<The information we possessed respecting the prevalent 
winds on this coast was very scanty; yet, since all we could 
procure represented them as prevailing from the northward and 
north-westward, I considered it advisable to take advantage of 
the present southerly wind to proceed to the northern part of 
the coast assigned for our survey, instead of stopping to explore 
the bight between Cape Isabel and Cape Santa Lucia. 
‘From the bearings at sunset,* we ran along the land with 
bright moonlight, sounding every hour; and at daylight were 
about ten miles from the Island of Madre de Dios. 
“We closed the land and proceeded to the northward, keep- 
ing at a distance of about three miles off shore, sounding 
» Beagle Island N. 71°. E., Cape Isabel N. 32°. E., a remarkable moun- 
tain in the bight between Cape Santa Lucia and Cape Isabel N. 11°. W. 
Cape Santa Lucia N. 33°. W.; distance off shore three leagues; and 
soundings fifty fathoms, sandy bottom. 
