72 



HYDROGRAPHY. 



New Zealand : they were reached by the 1st of December, a distance 

 of 1000 miles, in ten days. For the first half of the passage the 

 winds prevailed from the north and west, and the latter half from the 

 southwest. The currents experienced were strong from the northeast. 

 Cook's Straits were passed through without difficulty, the wind and 

 current being favorable. The lands are high and the shores bold, and 

 no dangers to be apprehended. It would be advisable for a stranger, 

 if he should be late in approaching the Straits, not to attempt them 

 until the reappearance of daylight. There is no particular caution 

 necessary, except to keep the mid-channel, where a vessel would be 

 least affected by the tides, and have all the benefits of the current, if 

 any existed. In case vessels desired to stop, they may seek tempo- 

 rary anchorage in the bays on the north or south. Here some supplies 

 can be obtained. Formerly much was to be apprehended from the 

 savage disposition of the natives, but since the large immigration of 

 English, they are friendly, and desirous of trading for their produc- 

 tions, which consist of potatoes and hogs. 



The Relief's run to Cape Horn was made in 31 days, a distance of 

 4500 miles. The course was almost a direct one, with a fair wind, 

 either on one side or the other, all the distance. The first 900 miles 

 after leaving New Zealand, it blew from the north to north-northeast; 

 for the next 600 miles, from the southwest and south ; then it came 

 out again from the north until they reached longitude 127° west, 

 where they encountered, but for a day, the only head wind during the 

 passage ; then it again blew from the southwest or northwest until 

 they reached Cape Horn, passing which they arrived at the latitude 

 of 45° south, in the South Atlantic, where they w r ere met by the north- 

 westerly winds, which compelled them to make a considerable devia- 

 tion from their course, and retarded their arrival at Rio. At no time 

 of the passage did they enter the southeast trades. The winds were 

 from the southwest and west, resembling in character a monsoon. 

 Until within several hundred miles of Cape Horn, they may be said 

 not to have had any current : that which they did meet with was 

 from the northward, but as they approached the Cape it was found to 

 be 30 miles a day, setting to the east-southeast ; and after passing the 

 Cape, it set to the northeast and east, to the latitude of 45° south, 

 when it changed to the southwest, southeast, northeast, and west, for 

 the last few days, before their arrival at Rio Janeiro. 



This may be said to be the best time of the year to make this pas- 



