RIO NEGRO. 115 
thunder-storm, with rain and hail. The current was north 49° east, 
thirty-one miles : temperature of the water 54°, that of the air 64°. 
On the 2d, latitude 41° 24' S., longitude 5S° 40' W., the wind was 
from the northward and westward, and was accompanied by hazy 
weather ; the temperature of the water rose to 58°, air 66°. The cold 
water which had been passed through had continued for a distance of 
one hundred and sixty miles; the current was found, by anchoring a 
boat, to set south-half-west three-fourths of a mile per hour. The same 
kind of soundings continued ; some large dark spots were discovered 
in the water, but on examination they proved to be shoals of small fish 
resembling herring. Immense flocks of sea birds were still met with. 
The current from the 4th till the 7th was setting northeast-by-east, 
ten to twenty miles a day ; water and air continued at about 60°. 
On the 5th, in dredging, they succeeded in obtaining a number of 
interesting shells, from deep water. 
On the 9th they discovered the coast of Patagonia, near Point 
Lobos. It appeared low at first sight, but, on approaching it, showed 
a level table-land, between four and five hundred feet high. At eight 
miles south of Cape Raza, latitude 44° 20' S., longitude 65° 06' W., 
the water was seen to break moderately, in the direction of east-north- 
east and west-southwest; a boat was lowered, and an officer sent to 
examine the shoal : the least depth of water found was fourteen 
fathoms. 
On the 10th they rounded Cape St. Joseph's. The country 
was destitute of trees ; only a few shrubs were seen : it appeared 
covered with a tall grass, and the only living thing seen was a herd 
of guanacoes. 
During the sail down the coast the dredge continued to be used, 
and with success, and many interesting objects were obtained ; among 
them, terebratulas, chitons, corallines, sponges, many small and large 
crustaceous animals, and large volutes (Cymbiola Magellanica.) 
On the 12th they again discovered land to the southward and 
westward, which afterwards proved to be Cape Three Points. 
Captain King's remarks, relative to the apex of one of the hills, as 
not being visible to the northeast, was found to be erroneous : it was 
distinctly seen on board the Relief at a distance of twenty miles. It 
is one of the most remarkable headlands of the coast, showing as it 
does above the flat table-land that is immediately behind it. 
There is a shoal to the westward of Cape Three Points, which 
Lieutenant-Commandant Long, after anchoring, sent three boats to 
