Page:Colnett - Voyage to the South Pacific (IA cihm 33242).djvu/49



HAVE doubled Cape Horn in different eaons; but were I to make another voyage to this part of the globe, and could command my time, I would mot certainly prefer the beginning of winter, or even winter itelf, with moon-light nights; for, in that eaon, the winds begin to vary to the Eatward; as I found them, and as Captain, now Admiral, Macbride, oberved at the Falkland Iles. Another error, which, in my opinion, the commanders of veels bound round Cape Horn commit, is, by keeping between the Falkland Iles and the main, and through the Straits Le Maire; which not only lengthens the ditance, but ubjects them to an heavy, irregular ea, occaioned by the rapidity of the current and tides in that channel, which may be avoided, by paing to the Eatward. At the ame time, I would recommend them to keep near the coat of Staten Land, and Terra del Fuego, becaue the winds are more variable, in with the hore, than at a long offing.

If it hould be oberved, that a want of wood and water may render it neceary for veels to top in the Straits Le Maire, I hall anwer, that there is plenty of water at the Falkland Iles; and Staten Iland, not only abounds in both,