368 



CAPE INMAN LATITUDE BAY. DeC. 1829- 



this spot ; I called it Latitude Bay. It is remarkably easy of 

 access, and is also easy to leave : rather rare qualities in a 

 Fuegian Harbour. Cape Inman being prominently situated, is 

 a good guide to the anchorage. 



" Sunday SOth. A fine day ; and, knowing its value, we 

 turned it to account. From a height I saw Cape Gloucester 

 and the point of land on this (the northern) side of it ; and to 

 the northward I could distinguish the land about the entrance 

 to the Strait. The Landfall Islands appeared to be the top of a 

 ridge of mountains lying (partly below the sea) in the same 

 direction as most of the neighbouring ranges. Many dangerous 

 rocks lie off the S.W. side ; and there is no passage for a ship 

 between the islands, for the opening is narrow, and has only 

 two fathoms in some places. 



" 21st. This morning I sent the master and Mr. Wilson* in 

 a whale-boat to the east end of the island, to make a plan of 

 that part, and get some angles and bearings necessary for con- 

 tinuing the survey. 



" 22d. A bad day, blowing hard and raining. The wind 

 being from north and N.N.W. threw in a swell; and as we were 

 not yet sure of the quality of the bottom, though apparently 

 good, we struck topmasts and veered away a long scope of 

 cable. 



" 24th. The wind shifted to the S.W. and became rather more 

 moderate, though still squally, with much rain. It freshened 

 again in the night, and backed to the northward. 



" Christmas-day. Blowing strong from N.N.W. with a 

 thickly clouded sky and heavy rain. I was very anxious to see 

 the master return, but he could not in such weather. I feared 

 that his provisions would be exhausted, having taken only 

 enough for four days ; yet they had a good tent, guns, and 

 ammunition. 



" 26th. A strong wind with thick weather and much rain 

 throughout the whole day. There was no possibility of sending 

 a boat to the master, or of his returning by water. The island 

 being very narrow he, or some of his party, could walk across, 

 * Mate, lent to the Beagle, from the Adventure. 



