4^ Cordovas Voyage of Discovery 



frequent : in such a case, a vessel ought instantly to get under 

 sail. In the harbour, wood and water may be procured in abund- 

 ance ; and, being only Q\ miles from Cape Pillar, and easily 

 known by Cape Cut-down on its west side, as also having a 

 clean easy entrance, Tuesday Harbour cannot fail to be of sin- 

 gular service to ships driven in from the westward. The east 

 point of this harbour is the west point of another spacious bay, 

 one mile and a half between the points bearing NW. and SE., 

 and half a mile deep, forming nearly a semicircle. In the bot- 

 tom, the bay contracts to half a mile, by points advancing on 

 each side, and situated N. by W. and S. by E. There begins 

 a well-defended haven, which runs into the land WSW. one mile 

 and a quarter, and terminating in two small coves. The bay 

 contains very deep water ; and it is only on the west side, near 

 the land, that proper soundings are found, — from seven to twelve 

 fathoms, sand and coral. Near the mouth of the inner harbour 

 the depth is greater, and the ground rock. In the inside are 

 some shoals, shown by the sea-weed ; but on none of them did 

 we find less than six fathoms. Fresh-water, wood, and shell- 

 fish, are not wanting in this bay; but few vessels will, neverthe- 

 less, enter it, when they can take Tuesday Bay so near it, and 

 nearer the mouth of the strait. The outer bay was called Trux- 

 ' illo Bay, and the inner Port Rivero. 



We had now completed our survey of the coast of Tierra del 

 Fuego, all the way to the westward from Cape Monday to Cape 

 Pillar, according to our instructions ; and we feel ourselves war- 

 ranted to assure all future navigators, that thej^ may, without ap- 

 prehension, follow our remarks and counsels. Of the north 

 coast of the strait we had determined the situation of the most 

 remarkable points, which seemed to be all that was requisite in 

 a tract particularly exposed to the prevalent winds and currents 

 in that part of the strait; and which presents only a long suc- 

 cession of islands and rocks, which no navigator, excepting in 

 very peculiar circumstances, will ever approach. It was, besides, 

 specially enjoined us to confine our enquiries to the southern 

 coast alone. 



Our commission being now terminated, we resolved to take 

 advantage of a light breeze from the NW. to return to our ship ; 

 but, no sooner had we left the bay, than we met with a heavy 

 swell from the same quarter, accompanied by a quick succession 

 of calms and squalls. These sudden changes we ascribed to 

 our being near the land ; we therefore made off for the middle of 

 the strait, in the hope of having the wind more steady and mo- 

 derate. Steady indeed we found it to be, but so strong, that it 

 was with the utmost difficulty we could prevent our small open 



