April.] 



PASSAGE ROUND CAPE HORN, 



79 



inoffensive race of savages. The valleys and hill-sides in the neigh- 

 bourhood of the cape are covered with trees, moss, and green grass ; 

 but the summits of the hills are rough and rocky. 



Nine miles north-north-east from Cape Horn is Cape Deceit, before 

 mentioned ; a rocky point, and the most easterly of Hermit's Islands. 

 This cape has a very deceptive appearance, and strangers should be 

 careful not to mistake it for Cape Horn; for such mistakes have 

 occurred, as its name imports. The rocky islands called Barnevelt's, 

 lying north-east-by-north from Cape Deceit, are surrounded by deep 

 bold water ; but ships should always keep to the eastward of them, 

 until the strait formed by Hermit's Islands and the main of Terra del 

 Fuego has been more critically explored and surveyed. The northern 

 entrance of this strait opens from the capacious Bay of Nassau, but I am 

 not sufficiently acquainted with its navigation to attempt a description. 

 I know, however, that it contains many fine harbours, sheltered from 

 all winds. On either side of Hermit's Islands, the passage is believed 

 to be safe ; there being deep water, and no hidden dangers. 



About the first of November, northwardly winds begin to prevail in 

 the vicinity of the cape ; and, with the exception of occasional changes, 

 continue until the first of February. From this period until May, the 

 wind generally blows from the south-west quarter, occasionally shifting 

 to the north-west. From the middle of May to the first of June, east- 

 erly winds and fine weather prevail ; and from July to October, the 

 wind varies from north to west, and round to south-east, every four or 

 five days. 



About fifty miles south-west of Cape Horn are the islands of Diego 

 Ramirez, extending north-west and south-east, for a space of four or 

 five miles. This cluster is composed of three principal islands, and 

 a great many rocks above water. The centre island is the largest, 

 but contains neither wood nor water. As I shall speak of them pres- 

 ently, I have merely introduced them here because the currents in 

 their neighbourhood deserve some attention. Twenty-five miles to 

 the south of Diego Ramirez, the current is constantly setting to the 

 east-north-east, and north-east-by-east, about eight miles in twenty- 

 four hours. But farther in-shore it is governed by the ebb and flood 

 tides, which correspond to the course of the land. 



In doubling Cape Horn, with the wind from the north and west, or 

 from the east, ships bound to the Pacific Ocean should haul close round 

 the cape, and then, if practicable, make a due west course until they 

 are in the longitude of eighty west. If the wind continue to blow from 

 the north, they should run as far as ninety, as they may then have the 

 advantage of westerly winds to run to the northward, along the coast 

 of Chili ; being careful not to approach the land until they are to the 

 north of Valdivia. 



The Cape Horn gales have already been alluded to in connexion 

 with the exaggerated accounts which several navigators have given 

 of them. The heaviest and most lasting of these are from south- 

 south-west to south-by-east. They are most frequent in the summer 

 months, and often last two or three days at a time. When the southern 

 horizon is filled with rising clouds, heavy and white, in a blue sky, it is 

 a sure indication of a lasting gale of wind from the south to south- 



