58 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



there is ample room for working a ship, and no danger to be appre- 

 hended from a lee shore. The winds, together with the tides, will 

 assist very much in making progress to the west, and the smoothness 

 of the water will avoid much wear and tear to a vessel. There are 

 several anchorages that are convenient and perfectly safe : New Is- 

 land, Goree Roads, Gretton Bay, Sea-Gull Harbor, Orange and Sca- 

 penham Bays ; the latter two may be known by the " Sentry-Boxes," 

 which are conspicuous craggy peaks behind Scapenham Bay. This 

 course would be much more desirable at some seasons of the year than 

 at others, and particularly during that portion of the year when day- 

 light prevails. 



In fine weather the passage outside the Hermit Islands and round 

 Cape Horn is attended with no difficulty, and the Cape may be closely 

 approached. The squadron was much favored, and passed within 



3 miles of it. 



I should not have taken the outside route around the Cape if the 

 Admiralty Charts had been in my possession, as I very much preferred 

 that through Nassau Bay. 



The Relief had previously reached Orange Harbor, by the inner 

 route, from Good Success Bay. She anchored for a day under New 

 Island, where they obtained observations, by which I find an error in 

 longitude of 6' west, as laid down on the Admiralty Charts. As New 

 Island is a well-defined object on which to get bearings, it is impor- 

 tant that its position should be accurately given. The situation of 

 Orange Harbor is easily known by Packsaddle and Burnt Islands : 

 the former lies some 5 miles to the north, and cannot well be mis- 

 taken, from its remarkable appearance ; the latter protects and forms 

 the harbor, and is readily recognized by its smooth surface. In 

 entering, either side of Burnt Island may be taken, but I recommend 

 that to the north, bearing in mind that there are no dangers without 

 the line of kelp. The best position in which to anchor is towards the 

 head of the harbor. 



Orange Harbor lies in longitude 68° 02' 40" west, latitude 55° 31' 

 south. The tide rises 4 feet, and it is high water, full and change, at 



4 o'clock. The flood runs to the eastward 5 hours. 



The water we procured here, although apparently highly impreg- 

 nated with vegetable matter, was found quite wholesome. 



It is scarcely necessary to add that it was almost impossible, from 

 the fickleness of the climate, to get a series of observations, and that 



