birds, seals, and rock-weed, and of a few striking phenomena that were seen; particularly the aurora australis, and some singular fog-banks that were mistaken for land. During the passage, Mr. Wales. ingeniously contrived an instrument for measuring correctly the angle formed by the rolling of the ship. The greatest angle observed was 38°.
Finding no land in this extensive track, and having no hope of discovering any in this part of the ocean, our navigator rightly judged, that the best service he could now render to navigation and geography, would be to explore the western and southern shores of Terra del Fuego, hitherto very imperfectly known. He, therefore, made for the western entrance of the Straits of Magalhaens, and came in sight of the land near Cape Deseada, on saturday, December 17th.; completing his passage from New Zealand in about the same time as the Adventure.
Bidding adieu to the Pacific, which had so long been the scene of his researches, he now coasted along Terra del Fuego, from Cape Deseada southward; keeping at about two leagues distance from the shore, and marking the most striking features of the coast. To a high rugged isle, which was first in his way, he gave the name Landfall. A projecting point, about 17 leagues further south, he termed Cape Gloucester. He afterwards passed Cape Noir, where he observed some remarkable rocks, and rocky islets. He then crossed the great bay of St. Barbara, which opens into the Straits of Magalhaens: and he named the S.E. point of this bay, Cape Desolation; because here the country begins to be most desolate and barren, consisting of naked mountains and rocks, with frightful pre-
