242 TIDES — CURRENTS. 



feet at spring tides. The principal swell of the ocean, which 

 causes the tidal streams about these islands, comes from the 

 south-east. Scarcely any stream is perceptible on the south-east 

 coast of East Falkland ; but along the north, south, and west 

 shores it increases in strength, until among the Jason Islands it 

 runs six miles an hour, causing heavy and dangerous races. Off 

 Berkeley Sound, across the entrance, and near Cape Carysfort, 

 the tide runs about two knots, at its greatest strength ; and 

 thence westward it increases gradually. Into Falkland Sound 

 the tide flows from both openings, and meets near the Swan 

 Islands ; shewing, I apprehend, that the principal wave or 

 swell impinges upon the coast considerably eastward of south. 



The tidal currents are stronger along the northern shores of 

 the archipelago than they are along the south coasts ; and the 

 stream of flood is stronger than the ebb. At Port William, the 

 easternmost harbour, the time of high water at full moon is 

 five ; and thence westward, the times increase gradually to 

 half-past eight, at New Island, which is nearly the western- 

 most of the group. 



Generally speaking, the sea is much deeper near the south- 

 ern and western shores than it is near those of the north ; and 

 to those local differences I attribute the varying velocity of the 

 minor tide streams. 



Besides these movements of the surrounding waters, there is 

 a current setting past the islands from south-west to north- 

 east : a current which continually brings drift wood to their 

 southern coasts, and has brought Fuegian canoes. On all parts 

 of the southern shores that are open to the south-west, the 

 beaches or rocks are covered with trees, which have drifted from 

 Staten Land or Tierra del Fuego. Great quantities of this 

 driftwood may be found between Cape Orford and Cape Mere- 

 dith ; upon the Arch, Speedwell, George, and Barren Islands : 

 indeed, there are few places between Cape Orford and Choi- 

 seul Bay where a vessel may not find a good supply of fuel. On 

 Long Island, and in the bay behind the Sea-Lion Islands, 

 portions of Fuegian canoes have often been found ; one con- 

 sisted of an entire side (pieces of bark sewed together), which 



