110 RIO NEGRO. 
clear off. On the 12th, the barometer a? am fell to 29-500 in., which 
brought thick weather and rain, with a heavy bank of cumuli to the 
southward and westward, — a precursor of bad weather. In a few 
hours we had heavy squalls, with hail and rain, the weather becoming 
sensibly colder. Temperature 46°. The next morning we made 
Staten Land, and soon afterwards Cape St. Diego, Terra del Fuego. 
The land was broken, high, and desolate. The Straits of Le Maire 
were before us : we were just in time to take the tide, and with a fair 
wind we sailed rapidly through the strait, passing its whirls and 
eddies, now quite smooth, but in a short time to become vexed and 
fretted by the returning tide. The squadron glided along with all its 
canvass spread to the breeze, scarcely making a ripple under the 
bows. The day was a remarkably fine one for this climate, and the 
sight beautiful, notwithstanding the desolate appearance of the shores. 
I cannot see why there should be any objection to the passage 
through the Straits of Le Maire, as it gives a vessel a much better 
chance of making the passage round the cape quickly. No danger 
exists here that I know of. A vessel with the tide will pass through 
in a few hours. As for the " race and dangerous sea," I have fully 
experienced it in the Porpoise, on the side of Staten Land ; and am 
well satisfied that any vessel may pass safely through it, at all times 
and in all weathers, or if not so disposed, may wait a tew hours until 
the sea subsides, and the tide changes. We were only three hours in 
passing through. We entered the straits with studding-sails set, and 
left them under close-reefed topsails. Squalls issuing from the ravines 
were frequent and severe, and were accompanied occasionally by a 
little snow. The barometer had fallen to 29-250 in. Contrary to my 
expectations we had on the next day delightful weather, with light 
and variable winds from the eastward, and at times calms. This 
gave me an opportunity of examining the currents. Many rips were 
observed, and it was found, as the vessels were on different sides of 
them, they were set in opposite directions. The current, on the 
outside of a line drawn from Cape Good Success to Cape Horn, sets 
to the eastward, and vessels sailing to the westward would greatly 
facilitate their passage by beating within this line, taking advantage 
of the tide on its ebb, and passing between the Hermit Islands and 
the main through Nassau Bay, if the time is at all favourable for it. 
In case of necessity, they may obtain good anchorage. 
To the eastward of Cape Horn I obtained a sounding with the 
deep-sea thermometer to the depth of four hundred and fifty fathoms. 
