CHAPTER XX. 
Beagle sails from San Carlos—Enter Strait—Harbour of Mercy—Cape 
Pillar—A postles—Judges—Landfall Island—Cape Gloucester—Dis- 
location Harbour —Week Islands —Fuegians—Latitude Bay—Boat’s 
crew in distress—Petrel—Passages—Otway Bay—Cape Tate—Fin- 
cham Islands—Deepwater Sound—Breaker Bay—Grafton Islands— 
Geological remarks—Barbara Channel—Mount Skyring—Compasses 
affected—Drawings—Provisions—Opportunities lost. 
Captain Fitz Roy having received his orders on the 18th 
of November (see Appendix), sailed the following morning 
from San Carlos, and proceeding to the southward, approached 
the entrance of the Strait of Magalhaens on the night of the 
24th. The following are extracts from his Journal :— 
‘* At daylight on the 25th, with the wind at S.W., we made 
Cape Pillar right a-head (E.N.E. by compass), distant seven 
or eight leagues. The wind became lighter, and we were set 
by a current to the S.W., which obliged us, in nearing the 
Cape, to alter our course from E.N.E. to N.N.E., to avoid 
being carried too near the Apostle Rocks. A dangerous rock, 
under water, on which the sea breaks, lies half a mile more 
towards the north than either of the Apostles. Cape Pillar is 
a detached headland, and so very remarkable that no person 
can fail to know it easily. 
** A very good latitude was obtained at noon, from which, and 
the astronomical bearing of the Cape, we made its latitude 
within half a mile of that given in the chart by Captain Stokes 
and Lieutenant Skyring; and the weather being clear and 
fine, sketches were taken of all the surrounding land. At one, 
we passed the Cape, and at three, anchored in the Harbour of 
Mercy. By- the distance we had run, as shown by the patent 
log and compared with the chart, there had been a current 
against us of more than a knot an hour. 
