34 



Cordova's Voyage of Discovery 



ceptable but inconvenient; for the thermometer in the shade, 

 at noon, gave 171*^ of Reaumur. Rowing still along the north 

 shore at 3|- p.m. being nearly opposite to Cape Monday, in 

 Tierra del Fuego, we availed ourselves of the wind, fresh at E. 

 to run across the strait for that cape. At 7 p.m. the wind fell, 

 and heavy clouds springing up in the W. we ran into a channel 

 three miles E. from the cape. The channel divided itself 

 into two branches, of which we took that which pointed 

 SSE. It was enclosed by lofty perpendicular mountains, and 

 seemed to preserve a breadth of one cable and a quarter ; but 

 the waters being very still, we concluded it had no opening with 

 the ocean to the southward. As it presented no beach or spot 

 for our tent, we returned to the other branch, which led us into 

 a harbour formed by a cluster of islands, where the water was 

 without motion. The land was less elevated than in the other 

 channel, but still we could discover neither beach nor level for 

 our tents ; we therefore had to pass the night in our boats. The 

 wind changed to W. and a heavy rain, from which we Avere but 

 poorly defended by our tilt, poured down the whole night. It 

 will be sufficient warning to future navigators to state, that the 

 ground of this channel is rocky, and very uneven. 



Setting out at seven next morning, we found the wind in the 

 strait blowing hard from WNW. with a heavy sea, both too 

 powerful for open boats like ours ; we therefore ran into a small 

 bay, of which Cape Monday forms the W. point. Here we had 

 fortunately an opportunity, at 9 a.m. of taking five altitudes of 

 the sun, by which, according to Arnold's time-piece, we found 

 Cape Monday to be situated in longitude 5° 30' 25" W. from 

 the meridian of Cape Virgins : by other observations at noon , 

 the latitude of Cape Monday appeared to be 53*^ 9' 46" S. In 

 the evening, by dint of labour at the oars, we gained a little 

 more than a mile beyond Cape Monday, and discovered a very 

 valuable harbour, which, by its uniform circular figure, and the 

 regularity of the amphitheatre of mountains by which it was en- 

 closed, seemed to be the work of art rather than of nature. 

 The mouth of the bay is divided by a small island into two 

 passes, of which, that on the east is wide enough for boats only; 

 but that on the west is 27 fathoms English in breadth : and, in 

 the part next the island, the depth of water is between five and 

 six fathoms, on sand. Within the harbour the depth is from 

 eight to six fathoms, in all parts excepting along the shore, 

 where it is only four fathoms rock. The entrance is one mile 

 and a half W. from Cape Monday, bearing S W. from the W. 

 point of the large island, lying in what is called Buckley Chan- 

 nel, on the north side of the strait. In taking the harbour, there 

 is no danger but what is above water, or pointed out by sea- 



