A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Vol. 15 | Page 4

to Nassau Bay extended
from N. by E. to N.E. 1/2 E., and the south side of Hermite's Isles, E.
by S. At four, Cape Horn, for which we now steered, bore E. by S. It is
known, at a distance, by a high round hill over it. A point to the W.N.W.
shews a surface not unlike this; but their situations alone will always
distinguish the one from the other.
At half past seven, we passed this famous cape, and entered the
southern Atlantic ocean. It is the very same point of land I took for the
cape, when I passed it in 1769, which at that time I was doubtful of. It
is the most southern extremity on a group of islands of unequal extent,
lying before Nassau Bay, known by the name of Hermite Islands, and is
situated in the latitude of 55° 58', and in the longitude of 68° 13' W.;
according to the observations made of it in 1769. But the observations
which we had in Christmas Sound, and reduced to the cape by the
watch, and others which we had afterwards, and reduced back to it by
the same means, place it in 67° 19'. It is most probable that a mean
between the two, viz. 67° 46', will be nearest the truth. On the N.W.
side of the cape are two peaked rocks, like sugar-loaves: They lie N.W.
by N., and S.E. by S., by compass, of each other. Some other straggling
low rocks lie west of the cape, and one south of it; but they are all near
the shore. From Christmas Sound to Cape Horn the course is E.S.E 1/4
E., distant thirty-one leagues. In the direction of E.N.E., three leagues
from Cape Horn, is a rocky point, which I called Mistaken Cape, and is

the southern point of the easternmost of Hermite Isles. Between these
two capes there seemed to be a passage directly into Nassau Bay; some
small isles were seen in the passage; and the coast, on the west side,
had the appearance of forming good bays or harbours. In some charts,
Cape Horn is laid down as belonging to a small island. This was neither
confirmed, nor can it be contradicted by us; for several breakers
appeared on the coast, both to the east and west of it; and the hazy
weather rendered every object indistinct. The summits of some of the
hills were rocky, but the sides and vallies seemed covered with a green
turf, and wooded in tufts.[1]
[Footnote 1: True Cape Horn, distinguishable at a distance by a round
hill of considerable height, is the south point of Hermite's Isles, a
cluster which separates the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. False Cape
Horn lies nine miles to the north-east and is the west point of Nassau
Bay, where James Hermite cast anchor. Vide vol. x. page 197.--E.]
From Cape Horn we steered E. by N. 1/2 N., which direction carried us
without the rocks that lie off Mistaken Cape. These rocks are white
with the dung of fowls, and vast numbers were seen about them. After
passing them we steered N.E. 1/2 E. and N.E., for Strait Le Maire, with
a view of looking into Success Bay, to see if there were any traces of
the Adventure having been there. At eight o'clock in the evening,
drawing near the strait, we shortened sail, and hauled the wind. At this
time the Sugar-loaf on Terra del Fuego bore N. 33° W.; the point of
Success Bay, just open of the cape of the same name, bearing N. 20° E.;
and Staten Land, extending from N. 53° E. to 67° E. Soon after the
wind died away, and we had light airs and calms by turns till near noon
the next day, during which time we were driven by the current over to
Staten Land.
The calm being succeeded by a light breeze at N.N.W., we stood over
for Success Bay, assisted by the currents, which set to the north. Before
this we had hoisted our colours, and fired two guns; and soon after saw
a smoke rise out of the woods, above the south point of the bay, which
I judged was made by the natives, as it was at the place where they
resided when I was here in 1769. As soon as we got off the bay, I sent
Lieutenant Pickersgill to see if any traces remained of the Adventure
having been there lately; and in the mean time we stood on and off with
the ship. At two o'clock, the current turned and set to the south; and Mr

Pickersgill informed me, when he returned, that it was falling water on
shore, which was contrary to what I had observed when I was here
before,