RIO NEGRO. 107 



also, by arriving before the squadron, materially aid it by acting as 

 pilots, in case we should need such guidance. On the 6th the weather 

 began to moderate, and the wind to haul to the westward. Shortly 

 afterwards we had strong winds accompanied with rain. The lower 

 scud was seen passing rapidly from the northward and westward, 

 whilst, the upper scud was moving from the south-southwest. We 

 found the current setting to the north-by-east, about fifteen miles in 

 twenty-four hours. 



On the 8th we had a sudden fall of the barometer to 29-500 in., but 

 without any change in the weather except fog and mist. The wind 

 was from the west-northwest. On the 11th, the wind hauled to the 

 southwest, when the barometer began to rise, and the weather to clear 

 off. On the 12th, the barometer again 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 w r eather becoming sensibly colder. 

 Temperature 46°. The next morning we made Staten Land, and 

 soon afterwards Cape St. Diego, Tierra 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 w r ell 

 satisfied that any vessel may pass safely through it, at all times and in 

 all weathers, or if not so disposed, may wait a few 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, 



