16 



WHICH SEASON IS BEST 



that anything but winds materially influenced its 

 movements. 



On the passage from the east in summer^ (De- 

 cember,) the lowest temperature we observed off 

 Cape Horn was 39°. On the return passage, in win- 

 ter, (August,) it never fell below 40°, till off the 

 Falkland Islands, when it was one day as low as 35°. 



We observed no current off the Cape greater than 

 what might be ascribed to error in the estimation ; 

 neither have I yet heard any well-established facts 

 respecting the currents off Cape Horn, more than 

 what must always attend hard gales. 



A considerable difference of opinion prevails 

 as to the fittest time of the year for making a pas- 

 sage round Cape Horn from the eastward. There 

 seems good reason to believe, that, in winter, 

 when the sun is to the northward of the equa- 

 tor, the chance of easterly winds is the greatest ; 

 and many persons are of opinion, that the westerly 

 gales are then neither so violent nor so lasting as 

 during the months that the sun is to the southward 

 of the equator. Admitting these circumstances to 

 be as stated, there remain two very serious objec- 

 tions to the winter season ; first, the length of the 

 nights ; and, secondly, the presence of ice islands. 



