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

April 1828. PORT HENRY SITUATION. 159 to the north by low land, and fronted by many islands. This high mountain, which appears to be an island from the offing, was called ' Cabo Primero.'' '* " The following night was clear, and the wind moderate from S.E., but in the course of next morning it shifted to N.E., with squalls, rain, and thick weather ; we worked into the inlet notwithstanding, and by noon had reached three miles within its S.W. head-land, Cape William, and were abreast of a bay, into which I sent a boat to look for anchorage. On her return we stood into it, and anchored in the excellent harbour, after- wards named Port Henry, where we remained from the 2d to the 5th of April, employed in making a correct survey of the harbour and its adjacencies, and determining the latitude and longitude.-f- " The inner harbour, distinguished in the plan by the name of ' Aid Basin,' is perfectly land-locked, and sufficiently spa- cious to contain a numerous squadron of the largest ships in twenty fathoms water, over a mud bottom, and as completely sheltered from the effects of wind and sea as in Avet-docks. At the south-west side of the basin is a fresh- water lake, Avhich dis- charges itself bv a small stream, whence casks might be con-- veniently filled by means of canvas hoses, and the shores around have wood for fuel in abundance ; but, from the lofty surrounding mountains, some rising almost perpendicularly to an elevation of two thousand feet, the thick clouds with which this basin was generally overhung, and the dense exhalations that arose from it during the rare intervals of sunshine, together with the exceeding prevalence of heavy rain on this coast, this place must be disagreeable and unhealthy. Such objections do not apply to the outer harbour, for while its shores afford shelter, they do not obstruct a free circulation of air. It is sufficiently large to afford convenient and secure anchorage for five or six frigates. "We hauled the seine with very poor success, as a few smelt only were taken ; we had no better luck with our fishing-lines * (Sarmiento, p. 65.) t The description of Port Henry is given in our Sailing Directions.