78 



PASSAGE ROUND CAPE HORN. 



[1823. 



sentation to any one. No two men can view the same object through 

 the same medium, because their mental as well as physical organiza- 

 tions are differently constructed and arranged. Peculiar circumstances 

 also produce powerful and lasting impressions. What would have 

 been the report of a Patagonian or a Terra del Fuegan navigator, 

 had he visited our coast on the 23d of September, 1815, somewhere 

 in the vicinity of Nantucket, or at the entrance of Long Island Sound ? 

 On his return to the placid Strait of Magellan, he would have congratu- 

 lated his countrymen on being placed by Providence so far beyond the 

 reach of such a horrible tornado as he had witnessed in the most 

 pleasant month of a northern autumn ; and the horrors of doubling 

 Montauk Point would have been the theme of many a winter's even- 

 ing tale. 



To some minds trivial and even common difficulties are apt to loom 

 up into evils of enormous magnitude : how much more so when en- 

 countered for the first time, and at a vast distance from the scenes of 

 early days ! But even such persons, when once they become famil- 

 iarized to danger and hardships, view every thing with a clearer, 

 calmer, and more philosophic eye, until they are willing to confess 

 that every part of the created universe has its uses and its beauty, and 

 that every apparent evil is a real good. " In wisdom thou hast made 

 them all !" " His tender mercies are over all his works." 



To return from this digression. Ships bound round Cape Horn, 

 after passing the Strait of Le Maire and Cape Good Success (a pro- 

 jecting point of Terra del Fuego, a little south of the strait), should 

 steer S.S.W. half W., taking care to pass to the south and east of all 

 the islands, should the current set to the westward, which seldom 

 happens. If it be night, however, and the wind permit, they should 

 steer S. by W. half W. Should they be in want of wood and water, 

 they can obtain a supply in the Bay of Good Success, before leaving 

 the strait. This bay, which is visible from the northern entrance of 

 the strait, is about two miles wide, and extends into the land, west- 

 wardly, two miles and a half. It may easily be known by a peculiar 

 mark or feature on its southern side, resembling a broad turnpike-road 

 running into the country from the shore. The anchorage is good all 

 over it, in from four to twelve fathoms of water, clear ground. The 

 tide rises here about six feet, and it is high water on full and change 

 days at a quarter past four. The flood-tide runs to the north, and 

 about two hours longer in the strait than in the bay. 



Four leagues south of this bay is the Cape of Good Success, before 

 mentioned, terminating in a point, from which the coast suddenly turns 

 to the westward. About forty miles from this cape, S.W. half W., is 

 New Island, within three leagues of the shore ; and seven leagues 

 S.W. from this lies Evout's Isle. At a short distance, S. by W. from 

 the latter, are two small low islands near to each other, called Barne- 

 velt's ; and four leagues farther, S.W. by S., is Cape Deceit. 



Cape Horn, which lies nine miles farther S.S.W., may be known 

 by a high round hill over it, which has a bold and majestic appearance, 

 being an elevated precipitous black rock rising conspicuously above all 

 the adjacent land. Back from the pitch of the cape, northwardly, 

 the country is covered with woods, and inhabited by a poor, miserable, 



