of the Strait. 



19 



up the Strait at the merc}^ of the current. We therefore began 

 to sound, and tried to take advantage of a sn[iall breeze from the 

 SW. in order to keep, if possible, in the middle of the pass. 

 At length, when we had got-in the cable, we found that the 

 anchor was broken, the greatest part of it remaining in the sea. 



How great this loss was to us, may easily be imagined, when 

 it is considered, that few or no resources were to be found in this 

 place, where the dangers to which we were continually exposed 

 rendered cables and anchors of indispensable necessit}^. Former 

 navigators had arrived at this part of the Strait of Magellan 

 ■without sustaining any loss whatever, or running any other 

 danger than what arose from the neighbourhood of the shores, 

 all but very little known, united to the violence of winds 

 almost constantly unfavooirable. The wind at this time was 

 very low ; but the current hurried us along the middle of the 

 channel, and at last brought us clear, and out at the west end of 

 the pass. At 2 a.m. a light breeze arose from the W. with 

 which, at 2|, we reached the north shore, and came to anchor in 

 the Bay of S. Gregorio, the cape of the same name bearing 

 S. 88° W. about two leagues distance ; having sailed seven 

 leagues during the night, carried along almost the whole way 

 by the force of the current. 



At 9f A.M. we again weighed, to take advantage of the tide 

 or current, now in our favour, but without any wind, till llf, 

 when a small breeze from S. W. arose ; and, after a number of 

 tacks, we ran through the second pass of this strait ; at 3|: p.m. 

 reached its west end ; and used every eifort to arrive at the an- 

 chorage of the Island St. Isabel, (Elizabeth,) notwithstanding 

 that the wind now blew fresh from SW. But, the tide begm- 

 ning to alter its direction, we were obliged to look out for a 

 proper situation where we might wait for its return in our 

 favour. As we were very unwilling to sacrifice the way we 

 had now gained, we resolved to embrace the first opportunity 

 for anchoring that should present itself on the north side of this 

 pass : we at last come to anchor in a place that afforded some 

 shelter, in five fathoms sand ; but the water falling off speedily 

 one fathom, we were obliged instantly to quit that place, know- 

 ing well the danger of such a situation ; and were fortunate 

 -enough to be able to weigh the anchor quickly, although both 

 wind and tide were agamst us. It was m this place that Sar- 

 niiento anchored, who, for a similar reason, was likewise obliged 

 to abandon it. He called the bay Santa Susanna. 



From on-board the frigate we observed a shoal, about two 

 miles off, and a good way out from the north shore, which is not 

 mentioned in any charts or accounts of former navigators. Soon 

 after we got under-way, we discovered that it extended con- 



D 2 



