Nov. 1829. VICINITY OF CAPE PILLAR. 361 
* In working into the harbour we passed over several patches 
of kelp, under which the bottom was plainly visible; but the 
lead never showed less than five fathoms, until we were about 
to anchor, when the vessel shot a-head into a weedy place, 
where we had three fathoms. This was about a cable’s length 
in-shore (towards the highest mountain) of the spot marked by 
Lieutenant Skyring as good holding ground, to which we 
warped and anchored. It proved to be very good ground, 
being extremely tough clay. 
« 27th. A promising morning tempted me to try to obtain 
observations and a round of angles on or near Cape Pillar. I 
therefore left the ship with the master, and went in a boat to 
the Cape. ‘To land near it in much swell was not easy upon 
such steep and slippery rocks: at last we got ashore in a cove, 
and hauled the instruments up the rocks by lines, but could 
get no further, on account of precipices. I, therefore, gave up 
that attempt, and went outside the Cape, to look for a better 
place ; but every part seemed similar, and, as the weather was 
getting foggy, it was useless to persevere. In going to the 
Cape, and in returning, I measured the distance by a patent 
log, and found the mean of the two measurements agree with 
the chart. What current there was, ran to the westward. 
** A small ox, which we had carried from Childe, was doomed 
to end his voyage at this place, and probably we were the first 
people who ever eat fresh beef in the Strait of Magalhaens. 
* 28th and 29th. Gloomy days, with much wind and rain; 
and the gusts coming so violently over the mountains, that we 
were unable to do any work, out of the ship. 
*° 30th. Still blowing and raining. 
* Dec. Ist and 2d. Cloudy days, with strong wind ; but one 
short interval of sunshine was gladly made use of for rating our 
chronometers. 
«3d. This morning we weighed, and worked out; and at 
one P.M. we were three miles westward of Cape Pillar, with 
every appearance of a N.W. gale. Shortly after, the weather 
became so thick, that I could not see any part of the coast ; 
and therefore stood off shore, under low sail, expecting a bad- 
