Jan. 1828. 



BELLACO. — POSSESSION BAY. 



109 



During the following evening there was a very heavy dew, 

 the never-failing prognostic of a northerly wind ; the horizon, 

 also, was very hazy, and the water perfectly smooth. We were 

 not more than ten miles off shore, yet the land was completely 

 distorted in appearance by mirage. 



Next morning we were very close to the position assigned to 

 the Bellaco, or St. Estevan's Shoal, the existence of which has 

 been very much doubted. It was discovered by theNodales, and 

 in the diary of their voyage is thus described : "At five o'clock, 

 or later in the evening, we discovered a rock a- wash (' una baxa 

 que lababa la mar en ella') about five leagues from the shore, 

 more or less. It is a very deceitful rock ('Es muy bellaco baxo'), 

 because it is under water, over which, in fine weather and 

 smooth water, the sea breaks. We sounded near it, and found 

 twenty-six fathoms stony bottom. Its latitude is 48^°, accord- 

 ing to our noon observation, and the course and distance we 

 have since run.""^ 



The late Don Felipe Bauza, one of the companions of Males- 

 pina, informed me, that on the voyage of the Descubierta and 

 Atrevida, their boats were sent to look for it, but were unsuc- 

 cessful. 



At noon we were in lat. 48° 40' S., long. 66° 6', depth forty- 

 two fathoms, but without any signs of the Bellaco. Sailing 

 on, the coast was seen in the neighbourhood of Beachy Head (so 

 named from its resemblance to the v/ell-known promontory). 

 Afterwards, Cape Fairweather came in sight, and on the 

 10th Cape Virgins, which we passed in the evening, and, half 

 an hour afterwards, rounding Dungeness, we again entered the 

 Strait of Magalhaens ; and anchored near the northern 

 shore. 



In Possession Bay we were detained several days, although 

 repeated attempts to pass the First Narrow were anxiously 

 made. 



One evening, clouds gathered, and the weather assumed such 

 a threatening appearance, that I expected to be obliged to run 

 to sea ; but to our surprise, when the cloudy mass seemed on 

 * Nodales, p. 48. 



