PLAN OF VOYAGE. 



27 



2dly. The gulf of Todos los Santos, which is studded in 

 the Spanish charts with innumerable islands and shoals. It is 

 said to have an excellent harbour on its southern side, which 

 should be verified ; but a minute survey of such an Archipela- 

 go would be a useless consumption of time, and it will therefore 

 be found sufficient to give the outer line of the dangers, and to 

 connect that line with the regular soundings in the offing. 



" Sdly. The Rio Negro is stated to be a river of large 

 capacity, with settlements fifty miles from its mouth, and 

 ought to be partially reconnoitred as far as it is navigable. 



" 4thly. The gulf of San Matias should be examined, espe- 

 cially its two harbours, San Antonio and San Jose, and a nar- 

 row inlet on the eastern side of the peninsula, which, if easy 

 of access, appears to be admirably situated : and — 



" 5thly. From the Bahia Nueva to Cape Blanco, including 

 the Gulf of St. George, the coast is of various degrees of 

 interest, and will accordingly require to have more or less 

 time bestowed on its different parts. The position of Cape 

 Blanco should be determined, as there appears to be an error 

 of some miles in its latitude, as well as much doubt about the 

 places of two shoals which are marked near it in the Spanish 

 charts. 



" From Cape Blanco to the Strait of Magalhaens, the coast 

 has been partially corrected by Captain King ; and Port 

 Desire, having been carefully placed by him, will afford a good 

 place for rating the chronometers, and an opportunity for ex- 

 ploring the river. 



" Port San Julian, with its bar and wide river, should be 

 surveyed, as well as any parts of that interval which were not 

 visited in the last expedition. 



" The above are the principal points of research between 

 the Rio de la Plata and the Strait. They have been conse- 

 cutively mentioned in order to bring them into one point of 

 view ; but that part of this service would perhaps be advan- 

 tageously postponed till after the Beagle''s first return from 

 the southward ; and, generally speaking, it would be vmwise 

 to lay down here a specific route from which no deviation 



