June 1829. cape quod — gulf of xaultegua. 247 



had been said about the difficulty sometimes found in working- 

 through the Strait, that it concerned us greatly not to lose a 

 chance of making progress. During this night the squalls were 

 very heavy. The holding ground must have been excellent, for 

 williwaws drove the ship from one side to the other as if she 

 had been a chip upon the water. 



26th. Weighed this morning, weathered Cape Quod, and 

 worked to the Avestward, the weather having cleared and become 

 very fine. The part where most tide is felt was then past. 

 Cape Quod projects so far south that the Strait is there ex- 

 tremely narrow, and though very deep, has a strong tide. 



" 27th. At daylight we found ourselves to v\/indward of 

 Marian's Cove. Looking eastward upon the land about Cape 

 Quod, it has a very bleak and rugged appearance. The almost 

 perennial west winds prevent vegetation from growing on the 

 heights exposed to their action. Hence the desolate look of the 

 western shores of Tierra del Fuego. We saw a sail beyond 

 Cape Notch, and, just before we moored, close to the shore in 

 Half-port Cove, we made her out to be the Adelaide. 



" 28th. A bad morning, snowy and blowing, but the wind 

 being moderate between the squalls, I went in a whale boat to 

 examine the Gulf of Xaultegua, and pulled along the south 

 shore towards Cape Monday. Having gained some distance to 

 windward, while the snow was so thick it was impossible to 

 see the shore, we made sail across the Strait, and hit the place 

 within a cablets length. When the snow ceased falling, we saw 

 a large space of water before us, the land opposite being at 

 least five miles distant. We sailed towards a strange looking 

 islet in the middle of the gulf, very similar to the old moul- 

 dering figures of the fabled Sphinx, but the snow becoming 

 again almost incessant, only allowing us to see our way at 

 intervals, while the v/ind was too strong for even a close reefed 

 sail, we landed, and hauled the boat up on an island. I was in 

 hopes of finding an opening which would lead me to the Sky- 

 ring Water; and my boat's crew, being almost as eager as I 

 was, cared little for the wind or snow. This night we made a 

 larger tent than usual, with a to]>gallant studding sail, and 



