Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

PLAN OF VOYAGE. ST " Sdly. The gulf of Todos los Santos, Avhich is studded in the Spanish charts with innumerable islands and shoals. It is said to have an excellent harbour on its soutliern side, which should be verified ; but a minute survey of such an Archipela- go would be a useless consumption of time, and it will therefore be found sufficient to give the outer line of the dangers, and to connect that line with the regular soundings in the offing. " 3dly. The Rio Negro is stated to be a river of large capacity, with settlements fifty miles from its mouth, and ought to be partially reconnoitred as far as it is navigable. " 4thly. The gulf of San Matias should be examined, espe- cially its two harbours, San Antonio and San Jose, and a nar- row inlet on the eastern side of the peninsula, which, if easy of access, appears to be admirably situated : and " 5thly. From the Bahia Nueva to Cape Blanco, including the Gulf of St. George, the coast is of various degrees of interest, and will accordingly require to have more or less time bestowed on its diflferent parts. The position of Cape Blanco should be determined, as there appears to be an error of some miles in its latitude, as well as much doubt about the places of two shoals which are marked near it in the Spanish charts. " From Cape Blanco to the Strait of Magalhaens, the coast has been partially corrected by Captain King ; and Port Desire, having been carefully placed by him, will afford a good place for rating the chronometers, and an opportunity for ex- ploring the river. " Port San Julian, with its bar and wide river, should be surveyed, as well as any parts of that interval which were not visited in the last expedition. " The above are the principal points of research between the Rio de la Plata and the Strait. They have been conse- cutively mentioned in order to bring them into one point of view ; but that part of this service would perhaps be advan- tageously postponed till after the Beagle's first return from the southward ; and, generally speaking, it would be unwise to lay down here a specific route from which no deviation