April 1830. climate — st. joachim cove. 



435 



losing her anchor. The least water I found was fifty fathoms, 

 though WeddelFs chart shows that there is less than forty oiT 

 the S.E. end. The heavy swell prevented my landing ; but the 

 appearance of the rocks induced me to suppose that they were 

 greenstone. If not of that nature, and similar to the rock 

 about Cape Horn, they may be of very hard sandstone. 



" 29th. In this climate, during the few intervals of settled 

 fine weather, the sky is frequently overcast soon after sunset, and 

 a slight shower falls. I noticed this frequently here, as well as 

 during the preceding April, May, and J une, in the Strait. 



" We stood into the bay which lies between False Cape and 

 New Year Sound ; but it offered nothing inviting to a ship, 

 being a leeward bight, with rocks and islets scattered along 

 it near the shore. Perhaps there is shelter for a vessel amongst 

 them ; but I would not choose their neighbourhood, if it could 

 be avoided, as the bay is exposed to the S.W. winds, which on 

 this coast are the worst. The breeze freshening, and drawing 

 to the northward, enabled us to reach Cape Spencer in the 

 evening, when, as the weather promised ill, I was glad to 

 anchor in eighteen fathoms, over a sandy bottom, off the 

 entrance of San Joachim Cove. 



" Expecting wind, we sent top-gallant masts on deck, 

 braced up, and veered to eighty fathoms. After eight the 

 weather cleared, and appeared likely to remain fine, but the 

 glasses continued to fall. At ten a sudden heavy squall came 

 over the land, and the tops of the hills became thickly covered 

 with clouds. Successive furious gusts followed : we let go a 

 second anchor, and veered a whole cable on each. The squalls 

 came most violently from the S.W., and in half an hour the 

 bank of clouds disappeared ; but a strong gale from S.W. con- 

 tinued till daylight, when it moderated. Cape Spencer pro- 

 tected us very well, both from wind and sea: should a ship 

 wish to enter San Martin Cove, and the wind or daylight fail 

 her, she will find this spot a convenient stopping-place. 



" 30th. The Beagle unmoored, got under sail, and stood 

 towards Cape Horn : at noon she was close to the famous 

 Cape, with beautifully fine weather, more like the climate of 



2r S 



