ENTER THE COLD CURRENT . 
373 
winds and heavy seas made it both disagreeable and 
difficult to land, lying, as we did, fully two miles 
from the shore. It happened however to be a fine 
day on leaving, and a few hours were devoted to 
swinging ship for magnetic corrections and de- 
viations. We then proceeded, under steam, out 
of the River La Plata. When off Maldonado Bay, 
we sounded and dredged in 13 fathoms, getting a 
good haul of fish, shrimps, holothuria, and dead 
shell. 
On clearing the land, the barometer gave indica- 
tions of a coming change in the weather, and, ere 
long, the wind freshened, and rain fell in torrents. 
It soon became evident we were in for one of the 
Pamparas, for which the Plata and its vicinity have 
been long celebrated, and which owe their name 
to the circumstance of their blowing from off the 
Pampas or plains. 
All due preparations were made by shortening 
sail, and as the wind increased, it found us well pre- 
pared. Fortunately it did not last long, and the next 
day (Feb. 28) we were able to recommence sounding. 
Found bottom at 1900 fathoms; temperature 32*7° 
Fahr. ; showing that we had again fallen in with the 
cold Antarctic current. During the following nine 
days, daily soundings were obtained from an average 
depth of 2700 fathoms, showing the same tempera- 
ture results (for 400 fathoms from the bottom it was 
below 32° Fahr.). On the 9th March the depth was 
