[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 deg.  W.; the point of Success Bay, just open of the cape of the same name, bearing N. 20 deg.  E.; and Staten Land, extending from N. 53 deg.  E. to 67 deg.  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, for I thought then that the flood came from the north.  Mr Pickersgill saw not the least signs of any ship having been there lately.  I had inscribed our ship’s name on a card, which he nailed to a tree at the place where the Endeavour watered.  This was done with a view of giving Captain Furneaux some information, in case he should be behind us and put in here.

On Mr Pickersgill’s landing he was courteously received by several of the natives, who were clothed in guanicoe and seal skins, and had on their arms bracelets, made of silver wire, and wrought not unlike the hilt of a sword, being no doubt the manufacture of some Europeans.  They were the same kind of people we had seen in Christmas Sound, and, like them, repeated the word pechera on every occasion.  One man spoke much to Mr Pickersgill, pointing first to the ship and then to the bay, as if he wanted her to come in.  Mr Pickersgill said the bay was full of whales and seals; and we had observed the same in the strait, especially on the Terra del Fuego side, where the whales, in particular, are exceedingly numerous.[2]