m 



those exertions in making sail, that are at all times requi- 

 site to shorten the passage. It has been advised by some, 

 to double the Cape in the dead of winter ; others have re- 

 commended the month of December and January, as the 

 most favourable. I can only speak of the month of Febru- 

 ary, and would advise them never to attempt it then. In- 

 deed, our sufferings (short as has been our passage) have 

 been so great, that I would advise those bound into the Pa- 

 cidc, never to attempt the passage of Cape Horn, if they 

 can get there by any other route. 



Gn the morning of the 6th, the Island of Mocha bore 

 northwest by compass, about twenty miles distant, and we 

 appeared about as far from the coast of Chili. Our sound- 

 ings 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 within 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 rounded, at the distance of one 

 league, and had ten fathoms ; the depth then soon increa- 

 sed 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 bear- 

 ing E. S. E., and the north point, N. N. E. We were then 

 ■about two miles from the shore. 



