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

164 ATPENDIX. round the circle ; tliey die away as they approach east ; and after an interval of calm, more or less in duration, spring up gi-adually be- tween north-east by east and north. Heavy tempests sometimes blow, from west-north-west to south-west ; and those winds blowing directly on shore are most to be guarded against. As to the tides, they are simple and uniform in the extreme. High water, at fuU and change, takes place within half an hour of noon, from Valdivia to Landfall Island ; and the rise of tide is every where, on the outer coasts Avithin those hmits, nearly the same, namely, from four to eight feet. In the offing no stream of tide is any where discernible, and even close to the land it does not exceed one knot, or at most two knots an hour. On this extent of coast what Httle current is felt, sets southward, except during or before strong or lasting sou- therly winds : its influence is, however, but trifling, upon a ship out of soundings.* A heavy swell, from the westward, drives in upon all the coast. A barometer is invaluable. No. 20. El Presidente de la Republica de Chile, &c. El Senor Roberto Fitz-Roy, comandante del buque de su Mages- tad Britiinica Beagle ha recibido de su Gobierno el encargo de reco- nocer estas Costas y levantar mapas de eUas ; y el Gobierno de Chile desea franquear a una operacion de tan conocida utihdad para la navegacion y comercio, y para el adelantamiento de las ciencias, todas las facihdades y auxihos que de el dependan. En su conse- cuencia, ordeno a todos los Intendentes de Provincia, Gobemadores Departamentales, Jueces de Districto y demas empleados y Ciuda- danos per cuyos territories transitare el Comandante Fitz-Roy que no solo se le ponga embarazo para que entre con su buque en todos los puertos, bahias y radas de la Republica que le pareciere conveniente a su empresa, saltando a tierra y ejecutando en ella los reconocimientos y operaciones que crea necesarias, sino que se le proporcione todo el favor de que pueda menester ; haciendo y procurando se le haga la mas amistosa acojida por todos los funci- * By the term out of soundings, I mean in deeper water than three hundred fathoms.