CHAPTER XXIV. 
A FEW NAUTICAL REMARKS UPON THE PASSAGE ROUND CAPE 
HORN ; AND UPON THAT THROUGH THE STRAIT OF MAGAL- 
HAENS, OR MAGELLAN. 
Suirs bound from the Atlantic to any of the ports in the 
Pacific, will find it advantageous to keep within one hundred 
miles of the coast of Kastern Patagonia, as well to avoid the 
heavy sea that is raised by the westerly gales, which prevail to 
the eastward, and increase in strength according to the distance 
from the land, as to profit by the variableness of the wind 
when it is in the western board. Near the coast, from April 
to September, when the sun has north declination, the winds 
prevail more from the W.N.W. to N.N.W. than from any 
other quarter. Easterly gales are of very rare occurrence, 
but even when they do blow, the direction being obliquely 
upon the coast, I do not consider it at all hazardous to keep 
the land on board. In the opposite season, when the sun has 
south declination, the winds will incline from the southward 
of west, and frequently blow hard; but, as the coast is a 
weather shore, the sea goes down immediately after the gale. 
In this season, although the winds are generally against a 
ship’s making quick progress, yet as they seldom remain fixed 
in one point, and frequently shift backward and forward six 
_ or eight points in as many hours, advantage may be taken 
_ of the change so as to keep close in with the coast. 
Having once made the land, which should be done to the 
_ southward of Cape Blanco, it will be beneficial to keep it 
topping on the horizon, until the entrance of the Strait of 
Magalhaens be passed. 
With respect to this part of the voyage, whether to pass 
through Strait Le Maire or round Staten Island, much 
difference of opinion exists. Prudence, I think, suggests the 
