4.20 A.M.--Weighed. 8.45.--Rounded Cape Froward. On passing San Nicolas Bay observed a Chilian man-of-war brig, and American and Chilian ships at anchor. Came to at 1 P.M. in Port Famine. [Sidenote: Port Famine, May 17.] 4 A.M.--Weighed. 11.15.--Came to in seventeen fathoms off the settlement to the southward of Sandy Point. Saluted the Chilian flag. This penal settlement, under its present Governor, Meños, a captain in the Chilian Navy, is situated between the prairie, on which cattle thrive, and the wooded country, containing the necessary material for building, is likely to become a large and useful colony. It has rich soil, an agreeable, bracing climate, and a coal-mine within a few miles, inland, from which a stream of good water runs into the sea close to the settlement. [Sidenote: May 18.] Weighed, and worked to windward. Came to at 11.10 in Loreda Bay. [Sidenote: 1851. May 19.] Weighed to run between Elizabeth and Magdalene Islands; got through, but before we could get into Royal Roads to anchor the flood-tide set us back. 12.30.--Brought up in eight fathoms off N.E. end of Elizabeth Island. [Sidenote: May 20.] Weighed, and worked up against N.E. wind to the entrance of the second narrows. Wind heading, worked into Gregory Bay. Came to at 11.45. [Illustration: _In the Straits of Magellan._] [Sidenote: May 21.] Landed parties to try for guanacoes and ostriches, stated in the chart to abound here. A few birds were seen in the distance, as well as animals. [Sidenote: May 22.] Weighed 5 A.M., and ran towards the entrance of the first narrows, passing to the northward of the Triton Bank. Succeeded, with the assistance of a strong tide, in getting through, making two tacks only towards the eastermost end. 10.30.--Trimmed and set studding-sails. 3.40.--Rounded Dungeness Point. 4.30.--Taken aback. Came to in fourteen fathoms off Dungeness Point. [Sidenote: May 23.] 7.15--Weighed and made sail on port tack. 9.--Cape Virgin, W by S. ½ S. 10.--Stowed anchors. [Sidenote: May 24.] Heavy swell from N.E. [Sidenote: May 25.] Light northerly winds; veered round to S.W. and blew. This was the heaviest gale I ever experienced: wind constantly shifting, the sea had no time to get up. Our close-reefed main topsail was blown to ribbons, and a close-reefed foresail was blown out of the bolt ropes. That part secured to the yard by reef points was blown into knots as big as a Norfolk turnip, and so hard that neither chisel nor nails could be driven into it. Of the fore staysail nothing remained. Our quarter galleries and half-ports were stove in. Quarter-deck boats had been well secured, but the one on the starboard side had been so encrusted with fibres of the mizen trysail as to have the appearance of whitewash, which was only removed by three-cornered iron scrapers.