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310 APPENDIX.
No. 54.
A FEW NAUTICAL REMARKS.
Without extending this work to an unwieldy size, it would be
impossilile to give pai-ticular descriptions of, or sailing directions for,
half the anchorages surveyed by the Beagle and her consorts. I can
here only allude to some which are least easy of access; for
details concerning the rest, 1 must ask the reader to refer to Captain
King's Sailing Directions, pubhshed by the Admhalty in 1832 ; and,
hereafter, to a similar work, which I am compiling.
In approaching or entering any port between the southern coast
of Brazil and Tierra del Fuego,* both leads and charts must
be closely attended to, tides and currents must be well considered,
and the colour, as weU as ripphng of the water, narrowly watched.
Generally speaking, much of this extent of coast is comparatively
shallow, and beset with insidious dangers in the shape of banks and
currents. Where rocks occur they are less to be feared, because
their position is, in most cases,t pomted out by kelp.{ Some of the
banks are particularly dangerous, being exceedingly steep-sided and
hard. Where there is a strong stream or great rise of tide, or where
both are found, the risk of approaching such banks is proportionably
increased.
Of the River Plata I have spoken briefly in Chapter IV., and of
Blanco Bay there is a slight description in Chapter V. of the second
volume.
Before entering PortBelgrano (witliin Blanco Bay), or any similar
port, such as False Bay, Green Bay, Brightman Inlet, Union Bay,
&c. I should advise anchoring, and ascertainmg the ship's position
exactiy, sending a boat to find the middle of the principal entrance,
and there dropping a buoy with a good anchor. If the weather is at
all hazy, no marks on the distant low land will be made out by a
stranger, until he has had time to talce a few angles, look round
from the masthead, and examine the chart leisurely. These things
cannot be so weU done whfle the ship is sailing fast; she may, however,
be brought to for a time.
• Except at the Falklands.
t That in the entrance of Port Desire is a notable exception to the
general rule
t Seaweed growing in rocky places.
APPENDIX. 3J1
Tlie Fallvlaiid Islands, 'I'ierra del Fuego,* the west part of Patagonia,
the shore.? of the Chonos Archipelago, and Chiloe.f those of
Cliile and Peru, and the Galapagos Islands, have bold coasts, with
deep water near them ;—in such places the lead is of less importance.
Most lurking dangers are buoyed by kelp; but where they are not
so distinguished, the lead would hardly warn the seaman of them,
because rocks usually rise so abruptly. A careful and experienced
eye at the masthead, another perhaps on the fore-yard or at the jibboom
end, a manageable quantity of sail, under which the vessel
may be instantly brought to the wind or hove in stays, and a good
estimation of distances by the commanding officer will be of more
consequence in fi-equenting these coasts, than either lead or directions.
San Carlos and the Narrow of Chacao are remarkable exceptions. Both
banks and rocks are there to be guarded against—by chart, eye, and
lead, however, rather than by lengthy directions, which sometimes
perplex more than they assist. Of these a particular plan is given
iu the map which accompanies the first volume of this work.
Remarks upon the winds, weather, and climate of each of the
southern portions of the South American coast have already been
given in various pages of this work; but I will add some more, refer,
ring particularly to the outer coast of Tierra del Fuego, previous to
saying a few words on the passage round Cape Horn.
Some Observations upon the Appeai-ance and Chai-acter of the Sea
Coast of Tien-a del Fuego ; a brief Description of the Anchorages;
and a few Remarks upon the Seasons, Wind, and Weather.
From Cape Pillar to Cape Horn the coast of Tierra del Fuego is
very irregular and much broken; being, in fact, composed of an
immense number of islands. It is generally high, bold, and free
from shoals or banks; but there are many rocks nearly level with
the surface of the water, distant two and even three miles from the
nearest shore, which malie it very unsafe for a vessel to approach
nearer than five miles, excepting in daylight and clear weather. The
coast varies in height from eight to fifteen hundred feet above the sea.
* Except the northernmost and the eastern shores,
t Except San Carlos cle Chil6e.