44 PORT DESIRE. [1822. 



of a much more recent date, whose " microscopic eye" could magnify 

 a molehill to a mountain, a smart breeze to a tremendous tornado, and 

 a few floating icebergs to a permanent wall of transparent adamant. 

 I simply relate facts without embellishment ; and if I encounter a horde 

 of Patagonians, I will give as accurate an account of their size and 

 appearance as circumstances will permit. Having thus declared my 

 purpose, once for all, I beg the reader's indulgence while I proceed. 



October 5th. — We arrived at Cape Blanco, the southern point of St. 

 George's Bay, on Saturday, the 5th day of October. The latitude 

 of this cape is 47° 13' S., long. 65° 55' W. Variation per azimuth 

 22° easterly. In approaching this cape it is necessary to be cautious, 

 as there are many shoals off' the coast hereabouts, which must be 

 carefully avoided. 



About eleven leagues south of the cape is Port Desire, in lat. 47° 

 46' S., long. 65° 59' 30" W., forming the seaport of a large river. 

 The mouth of the harbour is very narrow, and has many rocks and 

 shoals about it. It continues to be narrow for about two miles and a 

 half from the entrance, when it expands into a broad basin, sprinkled 

 with a number of small islands, one of which is covered with remark- 

 ably large seal. Near the mouth of this port, on the south side of its 

 entrance, is a remarkable rock, rising from the water like a church-steeple 

 of gothic order, and is known by the appropriate appellation of Steeple 

 Rock. This rock forms a conspicuous landmark for mariners who 

 are approaching the harbour, which would otherwise be difficult to 

 find. The tides are very rapid about this part of the coast, running at 

 the rate of about eight miles an hour, nearly north and south, and 

 rising twenty-five feet at each flood. The coast along here, from Cape 

 Blanco to Cape de los Desvelos, runs almost directly south, a distance 

 of about twenty-five leagues. » 



In running for the harbour of Port Desire, it is necessary to bring 

 the mouth of the river to bear W.S.W., Penguin Island S.E. by S., 

 Steeple Rock S.W. by W., the northernmost land N.N.W., and bring 

 two rocks to bear N.E. by N. These bearings will point out the 

 extent of the reef which runs off from the northern point of the 

 entrance ; after passing which you may run as far up the harbour as 

 you please (as it is clear of danger), and choose your ground for 

 anchoring ; taking care not to bring-to in less than seven fathoms at 

 high water, when the bottom will be found to be soft. 



There are two springs on the south side of the river, about two 

 miles from the beach, or in a line S.S.E. from Steeple Rock, from 

 which water of a good quality can be obtained in abundance. Os- 

 triches and wild beasts of various kinds resort to these springs to 

 allay their thirst. At a short distance from the coast, towards the in- 

 terior, there are wild cattle, red and gray foxes, deer, hares, and 

 nutria in abundance. The country abounds with guanacoes, resem- 

 bling our deer, but much larger, some of them being thirteen hands 

 high, remarkably swift, and very shy. On the islands in the vicinity 

 of this port are fur and hair-seal, and sea-elephants. Penguins, 

 mollymois, and many other oceanic birds abound on these islands, 



