42 NEW BAY— PORT ST. ELENA. [1822. 



very tough, and when dry becomes extremely light. We likewise 

 met with many fine springs of fresh water, and saw numerous birds 

 of beautiful plumage. The waters abound with scale-fish of almost 

 every variety. 



Whale-ships, having good ground tackling, may lie in any part of 

 this bay in perfect safety, and kill right whales in the calving season 

 as fast as they can try out the oil. The best anchorage is on the west 

 side of the bay, in from five to ten fathoms water, about one mile off- 

 shore, as easterly winds here seldom if ever blow with sufficient 

 violence to injure any ship lying with an anchor ahead. 



This bay is likewise an excellent place for ships to procure refresh- 

 ments, either with dogs or muskets. I have no doubt that two good 

 gunners or riflemen could shoot one hundred or one hundred and fifty 

 hares in a day ; and six or eight Spaniards, who are expert with their 

 apparatus for taking wild cattle, might make captives of at least two 

 hundred fine fat bullocks in the same time.* 



September 28M. — On Saturday, the 28th, at two o'clock, A. M., we 

 again got under way, and prosecuted our surveys towards the south. In 

 following the course of the shore, which now ran for several miles in 

 a southerly direction, we passed several small open bays, but found 

 no place of shelter until we reached the latitude of 44° 33' S., where 

 we made Port St. Elena. This may be easily known by the promon- 

 tory and hill of St Joseph ; a little to the southward of which the 

 direction of the coast turns towards the west, and here we opened the 

 port. Its entrance is about one mile wide, and there is good anchorage 

 on the west side of the bay, behind a small peninsula, where a vessel 

 may lie in four, five, six, or seven fathoms of water, secure from all but 

 southerly winds. 



In entering this port, you will see the small island of Florida, 

 with a few fur and hair-seal on its shores, lying at about half a 

 mile's distance from the starboard shore. Vessels may enter on 

 either side of this island. Fresh water can be procured at the head 

 of this harbour, but not of the best quality. The tides rise here about 

 twenty-five feet, and it is full sea at half-past four o'clock, on full and 

 change days. Port St. Elena is in lat. 44° 33' S., long. 65° 33' W. 

 Variation by azimuth 20° 15' easterly. 



September 30th. — We left Port St. Elena on Monday, the 30th, and 

 steered towards the south-west, keeping the boats constantly along 

 shore while daylight lasted. The coast here bends in towards the 

 west, and then sweeps round in a semicircular curve to the south-east, 

 where it projects out in a point, called Cape Two Bays ; thus forming 

 an extensive open bay, known by the name of Camarones Bay, near 

 the end of which is the small island Blanco, on which we found a 

 few seal. Off Cape Two Bays are several small islands, the one 

 lying farthest off shore is called Raza Island, being at a distance 



* When I arrived at Salem, Mass., from the Pacific, in 1824, 1 recommended a voyage to this 

 place, for the purpose of procuring a cargo of jerk'd beef, hides, and tallow. I suspect that the 

 reason the Salem merchants did not take hold of this valuable suggestion was because they did 

 not place the most implicit confidence in the information I gave them. The consequence is, that 

 this valuable discovery still lies undisturbed, and will perhaps remain so for many years to come, 

 unless, indeed, I should fortunately obtain the means of making a voyage there myself. If this be 

 effected, there will be a plenty of merchants ready and eager to embark in the enterprise 



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