H2 RIO NEGRO. 



rent 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 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 58° 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 dis- 

 covered 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-northeast 

 and west-southwest ; a boat was lowered, and an officer sent to exa- 

 mine 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 west- 

 ward, 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. 



