RIONEGRO. HI 



difficulty in passing Point Lort, from the very strong outward set of 

 the tide, which we found to run with a velocity of five miles an 

 hour. We were not able to make way against it, though the log gave 

 that rate of sailing. After beating about in this channel a long and 

 dark night, with all hands up, we made sail at daylight, and at half- 

 past 6 a. m. anchored in Orange Harbour. Here we found the Relief 

 and tenders, all well. 



The Relief, it will be remembered, was left by the boats at the mouth 

 of Rio Harbour, on the 19th December. Lieutenant-Commandant 

 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 east- 

 ward. 



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 porpoises 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 discoloured, 

 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 cur- 



