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

PASSAGE THROUGH THE STRAIT. 467 which was followed by cold weather, in which the thermometer stood at 12°. The following Table shews the mean temperature and pres- sure as registered at the Observatory at Port Famine in the Strait. 1828. Temperature. Pressure. February March April May June July August 49-4 41-2 35-5 32-9 33-0 33-2 29-40 29-64 29-57 29-30 29-28 29-57 29-28 The difficulties that present themselves to Navigators in passing round Cape Horn, as well from adverse winds as the severe gales and heavy sea to which they are exposed, are so great, that the Strait of Magalhaens has naturally been looked to as a route by which they may be avoided. Hitherto no chart has existed in which much confidence could be placed ; but by the present survey, the navigation through it, independent of wind and weather, has been rendered much easier; since a correct delineation of its shores, and plans of the anchorages, have been made ; and in the preceding pages, sufficient descriptions of them have been given to assure the navigator of his place, and furnish him with advice as to his proceedings. The local difficulties therefore have been removed ; but there remain much more serious ones, which I should not recommend a large, or even any but a very active and fast-sailing square-rigged vessel to encounter, unless detention be not an object of im- portance. For a square-rigged vessel bound through the Strait, the following directions will be useful : 9. h2