April 1830. CLIMATE—ST. JOACHIM COVE. 435 
losing her anchor. The least water I found was fifty fathoms, 
though Weddell’s chart shows that there is less than forty off 
the S.E. end. The heavy swell prevented my landing ; but the 
appearance of the rocks induced me to suppose that they were 
greenstone. If not of that nature, and similar to the rock 
about Cape Horn, they may be of very hard sandstone. 
29th. In this climate, during the few intervals of settled 
fine weather, the sky is frequently overcast soon after sunset, and 
a slight shower falls, I noticed this frequently here, as well as 
during the preceding April, May, and June, in the Strait. 
** We stood into the bay which lies between False Cape and 
New Year Sound; but it offered nothing inviting to a ship, 
being a leeward bight, with rocks and islets scattered along 
it near the shore. Perhaps there is shelter for a vessel amongst 
them ; but I would not choose their neighbourhood, if it could 
be avoided, as the bay is exposed to the S.W. winds, which on 
this coast are the worst. The breeze freshening, and drawing 
to the northward, enabled us to reach Cape Spencer in the 
evening, when, as the weather promised ill, I was glad to 
anchor in eighteen fathoms, over a sandy bottom, off the 
entrance of San Joachim Cove. 
‘“* Expecting wind, we sent top-gallant masts on deck, 
braced up, and veered to eighty fathoms. After eight the 
weather cleared, and appeared likely to remain fine, but the 
glasses continued to fall. At ten a sudden heavy squall came 
over the land, and the tops of the hills became thickly covered 
with clouds. Successive furious gusts followed: we let goa 
second anchor, and veered a whole cable on each. The squalls 
came most violently from the S.W., and in half an hour the 
bank of clouds disappeared ; but a strong gale from S.W. con- 
tinued till daylight, when it moderated. Cape Spencer pro- 
tected us very well, both from wind and sea: should a ship 
wish to enter San Martin Cove, and the wind or daylight fail 
her, she will find this spot a convenient stopping-place. 
30th. The Beagle unmoored, got under sail, and stood 
towards Cape Horn: at noon she was close to the famous 
Cape, with beautifully fine weather, more like the climate of 
2rQ 
