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

474 GOING EASTWARD FIRST NARROW. the north extremity of the sandy land of the Cape is in a line witli the west extreme of the high table-land, you will be near the anchorage ; tlien shorten sail, and when the green slope begins to open, you will have fourteen fathoms : you may then anchor or keep away to the N.E., and choose a convenient depth, taking care not to approach the shore, so as to bring Cape Gregory to the southward of S. by W.^W. (by compass). The best berth is with the Cape bearing S.S.W. Hence to the First Narrow, the course by compass is due N.E. by E.* The land at the entrance being low, will not at first be perceived ; but, steering on, you will first see some hummocky land, making like islands. These are hills on the eastern, or Fuegian side of the Narrow. Soon after- wards, a flat, low sand-hill will be seen to the northward, and this is at the S.W. extremity of Point Bari'anca. On approaching the narrow, at four miles off, keep a cliffy head, four or five miles within the east side of the narrow, open of the trend of Point Barranca, by which you will avoid the shoal that extends off the latter point. You r^hould not go into less depth than six fathoms. At most times of the tide there are long lines and patches of strong ripplings, through which you must pass. The shoal is easily distinguished by the kelp. When the channel through the narrow bears by compass N. by E.fE., steer through it ; and that, or a N.N.E. course, will carry you through. On each side, the bank extends off for some distance ; but by keeping in mid-channel, there is no danger until the cliffy coast be past, when reefs extend off either shore for some distance, particularly off Cape Orange. The N.N.E. course must be kept until the peak of Cape Orange bears south, and the northern Direction Hill W.S. W., or W. by S.^S. by compass. Then steer E.N.E. for Cape Possession, taking care not to approach too near to the bank * If from the Second Narrow, N.E.^E. will be the compass course; but I should recommend a ship to haul up to the northward until abreast of Cape Gregory, and then to steer as above.