452 EXAMINE STRAIT—SQUALLS. May 1830. 
from the best guanaco country. I was not sure which was the 
height Mr. Banks ascended; but the broad road mentioned 
by Cook is still a good mark for the bay, if the inbend of the 
land does not show it sufficiently. The weather here was colder 
than we had yet found it, the wind being so much in the south 
quarter; there were very sharp frosts at night, and snow lay 
deep, even close to the sea water-mark. 
“© May 30th. I was in hopes of finding a harbour between 
Cape San Diego and Cape San Vicente, or a little farther along 
the coast, where we might be able to fix the position of Cape San 
Diego and the adjacent land; for I did not like sending a boat 
along this coast, the tides being so very strong, and the shore so 
rocky, without any inlets, where she could be secured at night. 
(During Mr. Murray’s last trip, he was extremely fortunate in 
having a fine interval; as the coast he passed would have 
been impracticable for a boat in blowing weather. Had these 
last strong southerly gales begun before he came back, his 
situation would have been extremely critical.) We therefore 
stood into the strait, the wind being variable and light with 
us, though blowing strongly over the tops of the hills, and 
striking the water nearest them in strong squalls. At half a 
mile from the land there was little wind; but from that dis- 
tance to the shore was torn up by williwaws. This strange 
appearance must have been caused by the cold air rushing 
from the snow-covered hills and displacing the warmer air near 
the surface of the water. 
«¢ With the ebb tide and what flaws of wind we could catch 
we stood to the southward, to get some angles and bearings, 
and see more of the shore between Cape Good Success and the 
bay. In the afternoon we had a steady wind from N.N.W. ; 
and having done what was necessary, to the southward, re- 
turned, and anchored after dark near the middle of the bay. 
“‘ May Sist. At daylight this morning, we weighed and 
' made sail with a fresh northerly breeze. I trusted to the wea- 
ther improving, as the glasses were rising; but, indeed, our 
time was becoming too short to allow of a choice of days. We 
worked to the northward with the flood-tide, taking the required 
