168 



CAPE TRES MONTES. 



April 1828. 



rugged outline than that we had been hitherto coasting, since 

 leaving the Strait. We steered along the western coast of the 

 land near Cape Tres Montes, and at noon, being three miles 

 from the shore, observed, in latitude 46° 5. south, the cape, 

 bearing N. 80° E. (mag.), distant seven miles. The northern- 

 most cape in sight N. 26° W., distant ten miles, soundings 

 ninety- seven fathoms. Shortly afterwards another cape opened 

 at N. 37° W. (mag.). 



" The parallel of forty-seven degrees, the limit assigned for 

 our survey, being already passed, I did not venture to follow 

 the coast further, although we were strongly tempted to do so 

 by seeing it trend so differently from what is delineated on the 

 old charts. An indentation in the coast presenting itself 

 between mountainous projections on each side of low land (of 

 which the northernmost was the cape set at noon), we hauled 

 in to look for an anchorage ; but it proved to be a mere 

 unsheltered bight, at the bottom of which was a furious surf. 

 We then stood to the southward, along the land of Cape Tres 

 Montes, with the view of examining the north side of the Gulf 

 of Penas. 



" The following morning was fine : Cape Tres Montes bore 

 N.E., distant about three leagues. We lay off and on during 

 the day, while the master went in the whale-boat, to examine 

 a sandy bay (of which Cape Tres Montes was the easternmost 

 point) for anchorage : he returned about sunset, and reported 

 that it did afford anchorage ; but was quite unsheltered from 

 wind, and exposed to a great swell. The boat's crew had fallen 

 in with a number of seals, and the quantity of young seal's fry 

 they brought on board afforded a welcome regale to their mess- 

 mates and themselves. 



" At daylight (27th) we were four leagues from Cape Tres 

 Montes, bearing N. 68° W. (magnetic) a remarkable peak, 

 marked in the chart the ' Sugar Loaf,' N. 19° E., distant 

 twenty-four miles, and our soundings were sixty-eight fathoms. 

 This peak resembled in appearance, the Sugar Loaf at Rio 

 de Janeiro : it rises from a cluster of high and thickly-wooded 

 islands, forming apparently the eastern shore of an inlet, of which 



