CHAPTER XXIV. 



A FEW NAUTICAL IlEMAllKS UPON THE PASSAGE ROUND CAPE 

 HORN ; AND UPON THAT THROUGH THE STRAIT OF MAGAL- 

 HAENS, OR MAGELLAN. 



Ships bound from the Atlantic to any of the ports in the 

 Pacific, will find it advantageous to keep within one hundred 

 miles of the coast of Eastern Patagonia, as well to avoid the 

 heavy sea that is raised by the westerly gales, which prevail to 

 the eastward, and increase in strength according to the distance 

 from the land, as to profit by the variableness of the wind 

 when it is in the western board. Near the coast, from April 

 to September, when the sun has north declination, the winds 

 prevail more from the W.N.W. to N.N.W. than from any 

 other quarter. Easterly gales are of very rare occurrence, 

 but even when they do blow, the direction being obliquely 

 upon the coast, I do not consider it at all hazardous to keep 

 the land on board. In the opposite season, when the sun has 

 south declination, the winds will incline from the southward 

 of west, and frequently blow hard ; but, as the coast is a 

 weather shore, the sea goes down immediately after the gale. 

 In this season, although the winds are generally against a 

 ship's making quick progress, yet as they seldom remain fixed 

 in one point, and frequently shift backward and forward six 

 or eight points in as many hours, advantage may be taken 

 of the change so as to keep close in with the coast. 



Having once made the land, which should be done to the 

 southward of Cape Blanco, it will be beneficial to keep it 

 topping on the horizon, until the entrance of the Strait of 

 Magalhaens be passed. 



With respect to this part of the voyage, whether to pass 

 through Strait Le Maire or round Staten Island, much 

 difference of opinion exists. Prudence, I think, suggests the 



