YO ) = 
472 ADVENTURE'S PASSAGE—SUMMER. 
which makes like a high island. In calm weather do not pass 
too near to the cape, for the current sometimes sets out, and 
round the cape to the southward; but with a strong wind, 
get under the lee of it as soon as you please, and steer along 
the shore. In the night it will be advisable to keep close to 
the land of the south shore; and if a patent log be used, 
which no ship should be without, your distance will be cor- 
rectly known. The course along-shore, by compass, is E. 3S. 5 
and if the weather be hazy, by keeping sight of the south 
shore, there will be no difficulty in proceeding with safety. 
The Adventure entered the Strait on the Ist of April, 1830, 
at sunset ; and after passing within half a mile of the islets 
off the Harbour of Mercy, steered E. 3 S. magnetic, under 
close-reefed topsails, braced by, the weather being so squally 
and thick that the land was frequently concealed from us ; 
but being occasionally seen, the water being quite smooth, 
and the course steadily steered, with the patent log to mark 
the distance run, we proceeded without the least anxiety, 
although the night was dark, and the squalls of wind and rain 
frequent and violent. When abreast of Cape Tamar, that 
projection was clearly distinguished, as was also the land of 
Cape Providence, which served to check the distance shewn 
by the patent log; but both giving the same results, proved 
that we had not been subjected to any current; whereas the 
account by the ship’s log was very much in error, in conse- 
quence of the violence of the squalls and the long intervals of 
light winds, which rendered it impossible to keep a correct 
account of the distance. At daybreak we were between Cape 
Monday and the Gulf of Xaultegua; and at eight o'clock 
we were abreast of Playa Parda, in which, after a calm day, 
the ship was anchored. 
In the summer season there is no occasion to anchor any 
where, unless the weather be very tempestuous, for the nights 
are short, and hardly dark enough to require it, unless as a 
precautionary measure, or for the purpose of procuring wood 
and water; the best place for which is Port Famine, where 
