hi ihs Pacific 0{:ean. 



17 



III the first place, I must caution them against those erro- 

 neous expectations, which the opinion of La Perouse is unhap- 

 pily calculated to lead them into, and which, perhaps, have 

 proved fatal to many ships, by inducing their commanders to 

 believe that the passage round Cape Horn is attended with no 

 other difficulties than those to be met with in any other high 

 latitude ; thereby causing them to neglect those necessary pre- 

 cautions, which the safety of their ships, and the lives of those 

 on aboard, required. I would advise them, when they arrive in 

 the latitude 40^ south, to prepare their ships for the tempestuous 

 weather of Cape Horn ; by securing their m.asts by preventer- 

 shrouds ; sending down all their light spars, studding-sail booms, 

 &c. ; imreeving their small rigging ; unbending their light sails ; 

 and reducing, as much as possible, the weight, in order that 

 they may be enabled to carry a heavy press of canvas. They 

 should abandon all thoughts of using their light sails, until they 

 arrive in the same latitude in the Pacific. Indeed, it would be 

 advisable to provide themselves with a set of small topsails and 

 yards to suit them, as it will be rarely (if ever) they will be 

 enabled to carry whole topsails, and seldom their courses. Their 

 storm-staysails should be constantly bent; and if they have 

 guns, no more of them should be kept on deck, than what 

 would be necessary to keep the ship easy. From the latitude of 

 40^^ south, in the Atlantic, to the Streights of Le Maire, the 

 winds vary from northwest to southeast, by the west ; in order, 

 therefore, to take advantage of the slants which they offer, it is 

 advisable to keep about the edge of soundings, and run with 

 the wind free on that tack which most favours the course ; this 

 will prevent the ship from making lee-way, and the certainty of 

 a change will soon enable you to recover the direct tract. 



On the morning of the 6th, the Island of Mocha bore north- 

 west by compass, about twenty miles distant, and we appeared 

 about as far from the coast of Chili. Our soundings were then sixty 

 fathoms, fine black and grey sand ; the winds light, inclining to 

 calms ; and a small current setting to the north. I stood for the 

 island, keeping the lead going ; and found the depth to decrease 

 regularly to Avithin two and a half miles of the southeast part, 

 where we had ten fathoms water, fine bluish sand. A sandy point 

 makes out from this part of the island, on which stands an old 

 tree, and off which are some breakers, which extend a quarter of 

 a mile. This point I sounded, at the distance of one league, 

 and had t^n fathoms ; the depth then soon increased to fifteen, 

 when I hauled in for a remarkable gap, about the middle of the 

 island, and anchored in twelve fathoms water, with black sandy 

 bottom ; the southeast point bearing E. S. E., and the north pointy 

 N. N. E. We were then about two miles from the shore. 



Voyages and Travels, A^o. XLVII. Vol, VIIL n 



