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 1830. climate — st. joachim cove. 435 losing her anchor. The least water I found was fifty fathoms, though WeddelFs chart shows that there is less than forty off the S.E. end. The heavy swell prevented my landing ; but the appearance of the rocks induced me to suppose that they were greenstone. If not of that nature, and similar to the rock about Cape Horn, they may be of very hard sandstone. " 29th. In this climate, during the few intervals of settled fine weather, the sky is frequently overcast soon after sunset, and a slight shower falls. I noticed this frequently here, as well as during the preceding April, May, and June, in the Strait. " We stood into the bay which lies between False Cape and New Year Sound ; but it offered nothing inviting to a ship, being a leeward bight, with rocks and islets scattered along it near the shore. Perhaps there is shelter for a vessel amongst them ; but I would not choose their neighbourhood, if it could be avoided, as the bay is exposed to the S. W. winds, which on this coast are the worst. The breeze freshening, and drawing to the northward, enabled us to reach Cape Spencer in the evening, when, as the weather promised ill, I was glad to anchor in eighteen fathoms, over a sandy bottom, off the entrance of San Joachim Cove. " Expecting wind, we sent top-gallant masts on deck, braced up, and veered to eighty fathoms. After eight the weather cleared, and appeared likely to remain fine, but the glasses continued to fall. At ten a sudden heavy squall came over the land, and the tops of the hills became thickly covered Avith clouds. Successive furious gusts followed : we let go a second anchor, and veered a whole cable on each. The squalls came most violently from the S.W., and in half an hour the bank of clouds disappeared ; but a strong gale from S. W. con- tinued till daylight, when it moderated. Cape Spencer pro- tected us very well, both from wind and sea : should a ship wish to enter San Martin Cove, and the wind or daylight fail her, she will find this spot a convenient stopping-place. " 30th. The Beagle unmoored, got under sail, and stood towards Cape Horn : at noon she was close to the famous Cape, with beautifully fine weather, more like the climate of 2f 2