GO 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



have passed the Cape, I am well satisfied that much time, besides 

 great wear and tear of the vessel and fatigue to her crew, will be 

 saved by following the inner route, and continuing along the coast 

 as far as Cape Pillar. Some objections have been made to approach- 

 ing the southern shores of Tierra del Fuego, to the east of the Hermit 

 Isles ; but they are bold and high, and no hidden dangers exist to 

 cause alarm. The danger attending the passage through the Straits of 

 Le Mai re from the velocity of " the races," caused by the tides, many 

 deem the great objection to attempting this inner route; but I 

 cannot conceive why, if the weather will permit carrying sail at 

 all, there can be any difficulty in beating to the westward, within 

 the line I have indicated, between Cape Good Success and Cape 

 Deceit. Once up with the Hermit Islands, and being overtaken by 

 night, it would be well to seek anchorage in either of the bays 

 spoken of, and await daylight or a favorable time to proceed. The 

 only inconvenience that a vessel can be put to is in getting her ground- 

 tackle ready for use, which is not to be considered in comparison 

 with the wear and tear, if exposed to the violent storms at the 

 south. In nine times out of ten, the passage round Cape Horn, by 

 taking this inner route, will be not only much shortened, but de- 

 prived of its hardships and terrors, and subject to much fewer casual- 

 ties than that by the outside. 



The charts of Captain King, and his sailing directions for Eastern 

 and Western Patagonia, are admirable guides through this navigation, 

 and are very necessary for every navigator in doubling the Cape, or 

 when frequenting this inhospitable coast. 



Captains King and Fitzroy deserve great credit for the perseverance 

 and ability displayed in conducting the surveys in these boisterous 

 latitudes, the results of which are embodied in the Admiralty Charts, 

 with the directions of Captain King. 



As far as our experience goes, the barometer is extremely useful, 

 and indicates truly the weather. Those in the habit of using it in 

 northern latitudes would be inclined to doubt it, for its indications are 

 directly opposite ; fine weather accompanies its fall, and a gale is 

 seldom felt until it has begun to rise, when the wind veers several 

 points and increases till it blows with great violence ; this continues 

 until the mercury has attained its ordinary height. 



There is another view of this subject, that will probably show the 

 utility of adopting this route, viz., that it places the vessel in a situa- 



