114 RIO NEGRO. 
The Relief, it will be remembered, was left by the boats at the 
mouth of Rio Harbour, on the 19th December. Lieutenant-Comman- 
dant Long found it necessary to come to anchor before they cleared 
Raza Island, in consequence of its falling calm, and the flood tide 
drifting them in towards the harbour. The next day they took their 
departure, and with a northerly wind steered on their course to the 
southward, with hazy weather. 
On the 22d they experienced a current of twenty miles to the 
eastward. 
The barometer stood lower than had been observed before, 29-79 in. 
The weather had the appearance of a change, the wind hauling to 
the southward by the west, and then to the southeast quarter, with 
clear and pleasant weather. 
The 26th, the sea was extremely luminous in large patches ; tem- 
perature of the water 73°. 
On the 27th, in longitude 50° 19' W., latitude 35° 11' S., being 
three hundred miles off the mouth of the Rio Plata, they found the 
water very much discoloured ; its temperature had fallen to 70° ; no 
bottom was found with one hundred and fifty fathoms of line. Three 
sail of American whalers were in sight, one of which they spoke. 
The 28th, the current was found setting to the east-southeast, 
twelve miles. 
The 29th, in latitude 38° 54' S., longitude 54° 00' W., the water 
was still much discoloured, its temperature having fallen to 56° ; air 
66°. The ship was set southwest forty -six miles in twenty-four 
hours. No bottom was obtained with the deep-sea line. On this 
and the next day the ship was surrounded by large numbers of 
birds, consisting of albatross, black petrel, &c. Shoals of por- 
poises and seals, and large patches of kelp, were met with. The 
current was now found to have changed to north-northeast, fourteen 
miles. 
On the 31st they had reached the latitude of 40° S. Many tide- 
rips were here observed, and the water continued very much dis- 
coloured, having the appearance of shoal river-water. Although the 
chart indicated bottom at fifty-five fathoms, a long distance to the 
eastward, none was found with one hundred and seventy fathoms. 
The current was felt setting north 69° east, thirty-six miles ; water 
fell to 55°, air 59°. 
On the 1st of January they obtained soundings in fifty-five 
fathoms, fine yellow and black sand; this day there occurred a 
