PASSAGES. 



59 



we considered ourselves fortunate in making as many as were requisite 

 to ascertain the rates of our chronometers. 



Vessels desiring to stop for repairs, or wood and water, will find 

 Orange Harbor far preferable to any other port on the coast. It is 

 both convenient and safe, and affords every facility to procure those 

 articles, as well as scurvy-grass, wild celery, and berries ; and fish 

 may be also taken in abundance. Temporary anchorage is found in 

 the Bay outside Burnt Island. The stay of a part of the squadron in 

 Orange Harbor for 60 days, during the months of February, March, 

 and April, afforded us an opportunity of testing its advantages. During 

 this time the weather was extremely changeable. The wind pre- 

 vailed 47 days from the westward, 12 days from the northward and 

 westward, and but 1 from southeast. Eleven gales of wind occurred, 

 of from 2 to 3 days' duration. Nearly all navigators report that the 

 summer is the best time of the year to make the passage round Cape 

 Horn ; but it is doubtful, as it would appear almost impossible for 

 gales of wind to be more frequent than we experienced them. 



But to return to the inner passage. I here speak of it in contra- 

 distinction to the outward or southern one round Cape Horn. Once 

 having reached Gretton or Orange Bay, the first opportunity of a 

 favorable wind and tide which offers may be taken, of passing out of 

 the western channel, round False Cape Horn, to the southward and 

 westward. With the wind from the northward and westward, a course 

 may be made good to the west of Diego Ramirez, and under favor- 

 able circumstances even to reach the Ildefonso Isles. It is advisable to 

 stand as long as possible to the west, provided a vessel does not go 

 to the southward of latitude 58° south ; if the longitude of 75° west 

 has been reached, it would be better to stand to the northward again, 

 and close with the coast : no apprehension of a lee shore need be en- 

 tertained. All navigators who have had any experience on this coast, 

 from Cook down, agree as to the wind not " blowing home," and the 

 fact of the currents setting off shore to the southward would make it 

 impossible for any vessel to incur danger, with ordinary care. When 

 the gales blow from the westward, they seldom continue long from the 

 same quarter, but vary from the northwest to the southwest. This 

 offers many facilities in making the passage, and advantage should be- 

 taken of these changes, standing upon that tack which gives the best 

 opportunity of making westing. 



From a careful examination of the tracks of very many vessels that 



