PASSAGES. 



61 



tion, the moment a gale has subsided, to take advantage of the short 

 space of fine weather that succeeds, and in all probability to make the 

 desired westing, before a recurrence of storms ; for the distance to be 

 run is but some 350 miles, and may be passed over in a very short 

 time. 



There seems some difference of opinion relative to the longitude 

 to be reached before keeping off to the northward. In most cases, it 

 is that of 80°, in the latitude of 57° south ; but during the winter 

 season, from April to October, as the north and northwest winds pre- 

 vail in the Southern Pacific, it would be better for vessels to attain 

 the longitude of 82° west before steering away to the northward, thus 

 in all probability avoiding the heavy northwest winds which blow 

 near the coast of Chili, saving much time, and sooner enjoying fine 

 weather, which is generally less boisterous as the distance from the 

 coast is increased. My own experience is decidedly adverse to near- 

 ing the coast, or being forced upon it by northerly winds. For nine 

 days (from the 2d to the 11th of May), between the latitude of 40° 

 and 47°, we had constant and unintermitting north winds. 



Another argument I would urge in favor of these views is, that 

 nearly all the disasters that have happened in passing the Cape have 

 occurred to the eastward of Diego Ramirez, where the currents are 

 found to have greater strength, and the winds appear to hold longer 

 from one quarter, and do not veer, as has been noticed in the preceding- 

 remarks. 



At all seasons, the navigator is well assured that he is not so liable 

 to meet with icebergs, — one of the most serious impediments in the 

 spring and summer months. In the year 1832, the ocean was found 

 so covered with them that many whaling vessels, bound round Cape 

 Horn, encountering them, put back to Valparaiso, there to await a 

 more favorable season, considering it too dangerous to involve them- 

 selves with the numbers that were seen. 



From our experience of the weather, after we left Orange Harbor, 

 I cannot represent it as being stormy : it was boisterous, as one always 

 must expect it to be in these high latitudes, and off the extreme end 

 of the continent, it is subject to great vicissitudes, and the seas pro- 

 duced by the meeting of the waters of two great oceans are heavy. 



In the Vincennes, we were but eight days in attaining longitude 

 78° 30', in latitude 56° 30' south, when we bore up to the northward. 

 This longitude will not leave as much room as is to be desired to 



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