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246 lUIPEllT ISLAND TIDE BOlUA BAY. Junel829-
directly, let go another anchor, and rode out the rest of the
gale, which was extremely violent, without driving.
“ The instant our anchor caught, I knew we must be on a
ridge, of which Lieut. Skyring had spoken to me, lying between
Rupert and Carlos Islands, across which the tide makes
strongly, at the rate of about three knots. Rupert Island was
still under our lee, distant less than half a mile.
“ 22d. Blowing hard and raining. At 9 a .m . it cleared and
moderated, but so strong a tide set past us, to the south, that
we could not attempt to weigh. It differs here from that in
mid-channel by two hours, which may much assist a vessel if
she manages so as to take eight hours tide in her favour,
“ At eleven we unmoored, and got ready for moving at
the turn of tide.* At one we weighed and made sail with a
moderate wind from N.W., and by keeping close to Carlos
Island, and making short boards, we had a weather-tide, while
in the fairway of the Strait the stream was running to the S.E.
We anchored in Bachelor’s Bay (or York Roads), choosing
an outside berth in order to have more room to weigh again
and work with the morning tide. It blew hard in the night, but
we rode securely, although the tide ran at least three knots
where we were.
“ 23d. We started and worked to the westward, and at
nine were abreast of Borja Bay; but by trying for too much,
nearly lost all that we had gained, for in standing across from
the bay, hoping to weather Cape Quod, the flood tide took us
so strongly, that it cost three hours close working to get to an
anchor even in Borja Bay. We had rain and sleet continually
through the day, and it blew hard at night, but as plenty of
chain was out, the topsails and courses were close reefed, and
the top-gallant masts on deck, we were ready for anything.
“ 24th. Heavy squalls, with almost constant rain, prevented
our moving westward, and similar weather continued throughout
the day, becoming worse at night. Had we had plenty of
provisions I should not have minded this delay, because we
might have remained at anchor till it was over; but so much
* Ob heaving up the best bower, we found it had lost one fluke.
had been said about the difficulty sometimes found in working
through the Strait, that it concerned us greatly not to lose a
chance of making progress. During this night the squalls were
very heavy. The holding ground must have been excellent, for
williwaws drove the ship from one side to the other as if she
had been a chip upon the water.
“ 26th. Weighed this morning, weathered Cape Quod, and
worked to the westward, the weather having cleared and become
very fine. The part where most tide is felt was then past.
Cape Quod projects so far south that the Strait is there extremely
narrow, and though very deep, has a strong tide.
“ 27th. At daylight we found ourselves to windward of
Marian’s Cove. Looking eastward upon the land about Cape
Quod, it has a very bleak and rugged appearance. The almost
perennial west winds prevent vegetation from growing on the
heights exposed to their action. Hence the desolate look of the
western shores of Tierra del Fuego. We saw a sail beyond
Cape Notch, and, just before we moored, close to the shore in
Half-port Cove, we made her out to be the Adelaide.
“ 28th. A bad morning, snowy and blowing, hut the wind
being moderate between the squalls, I went in a whale boat to
examine the Gulf of Xaultegua, and pulled along the south
shore towards Cape Monday. Having gained some distance to
windward, while the snow was so thick it was impossible to
see the shore, we made sail across the Strait, and hit the place
within a cable’s length. When the snow ceased falling, we saw
a large space of water before us, the land opposite being at
least five miles distant. We sailed towards a strange looking
islet in the middle of the gulf, very similar to the old mouldering
figures of the fabled Sphinx, but the snow becoming
again almost incessant, only allowing us to see our way at
intervals, while the wind was too strong for even a close reefed
sail, we landed, and hauled the boat up on an island. I was in
hopes of iinding an opening which would lead me to the Skyring
Water; and my boat’s crew, being almost as eager as I
was, cared little for the wind or snow. This night we made a
larger tent than usual, with a top-gallant studding sail, and
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