40 Cordovans Voyage of Bucovery 



and, early next morning, the wind being easy from the NE, 

 although the sea still set from NW. we put off on our voyage. 

 As soon as we entered the strait, we had tiie satisfaction, at last, 

 to behold Cape Pillar, the western limit of the strait, and of our 

 dreary expedition. We marked also the position of Cape 

 Tamar and Sa. Anne's Island, lying in the bay on its east side ; 

 as also numerous other islands on the north coast towards the 

 mouth of the strait. 



The motion of the boats was rather unfavourable to our 

 observations; but we were able to fix Cape Pillar N. 62° 20' W. 

 from Cape Upright, or S. Ildenfonso. We then made for a point 

 of land, to determine more accurately a number of positions 

 for completing the chart of tlie strait ; but the rain and thick 

 weather soon hid them from us. Leaving that point, we came 

 to a bay, in which are two harbours of good appearance, but in 

 neither could we find ground with 45 fathoms, excepting close 

 to the shore, v/here it was full of large stones, and of very un- 

 equal depth. A little farther, we came to two other harbours, of 

 which the one runs in W. by N. and the other SE. The 

 former is in length above three cables by nearly two in breadth, 

 having in it a beautiful cascade, remarkable for the body of 

 water and the noise of the fall. This harbour, afterwards 

 named from another officer. Port Churruca, lies SW. by S. 

 from Cape Tamar. The entrance is broad and clean, even 

 close to the shores : few navigators will, however, be tempted 

 to resort to it, except from necessity, when they can make fast 

 a cable to the rocks. 



Having landed on the west point, to m^ke farther observations, 

 we continued our course ; but the wind soon again grew strong 

 from the NW. and the sea much more formidable, in proportion 

 as we approached the entrance of the strait. The south coast 

 was all along lined with rocks and islands, some stretching out 

 one mile into the strait. Notwithstanding the dangers of such 

 a coast, the wind and the waves from the Pacific Ocean re- 

 bounding from the north coast, forced us to take shelter on a 

 small extent of beach in a corner defended from all winds, 

 where we remained all night. The weather was clear, which 

 was no small relief to us, who for so many days had never seen 

 the sun, and whose clothes and provisions were drenched with 

 almost incessant rains. On the following morning, the wind 

 had fallen, the sea was much abated, and the ebb-tide in our 

 favour, we therefore again put to sea. 



Rowing westward, we passed a long succession of rocky 

 islands, till we came to a head-land, remarkable by its fcrm 

 and situation, although it does not project much beyond the 

 general line of the coast. Its termination is bare and high, 



V 



