Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.1): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

Feb. 18S7. WESTERN ENTRANCE. 79 noon, obliged )Tie to choose the least evil, and run for the Har- bour of Mercy. " On the 23d, we went out again, and beat towards the Isles of Direction, off which we passed a night under sail. " The morning of the 24th was very fine, and the wind moderate. Leaving the Beagle to sound about the Isles of Direction, I set out in my boat, with two days' provisions, towards Cape Victory, As we rowed along these rocky shores, threading the mazes of the labyrinth of islets which fringe them, we saw vast numbers of black whales, and the rocks were quite covered with fur seal and brant geese. " After pulling, in earnest, for six hours, we landed upon Cape Victory, the north-western limit of the Strait of Magal- haens, and there, with a sextant, artificial horizon, and chrono- meter, ascertained the position of this remarkable promontory. From an eminence, eight hundred feet above the sea, we had a commanding view of the adjacent coasts, as well as of the vast Pacific, which enabled us to rectify former material errors. Late in the evening we were fortunate enough to get safely on board again, which, considering the usual weather here and the heavy sea, was unexpected success. This night was passed vmder sail in the Pacific, and next morning we commenced our return to Port Famine. " When within four or five miles of Cape Pillar, and to the westward of it, a current was found to set southward, at about two knots an hour. As we neared the Cape the wind fell, and the Beagle was set rapidly towards those dangerous rocks, called the Apostles. Fortunately, a commanding breeze sprung up, and we extricated ourselves from the difficulty. While passing Cape Pillar, I landed in a cove near it, and deter- mined its position. By sunset we had arrived near the Harbour of Mercy ; and being becalmed, towed the ship in, with her boats, until an anchor was dropped at the proper place. " On the 26th, we went to Tuesday Bay, and on the 27th crossed the Strait, and anchored under Cape Parker. I have rarely witnessed such a high, cross, and irregular sea as we tliis day passed through, near the strange mass of rock, called by