regulations; the cost of which will be included in the dues of the port.
The Government approves the above regulations, orders them to be
printed, and fixes the price of each copy at two reals, to be
distributed according to the tenor of the last article.
(Signed) HERAS.
By order of the Government,
(Signed) IGNACIO ALVAREZ.
_Buenos Ayres, July,_ 1824.
* * * * *
INSTRUCTIONS for sailing from the Outer Roads of Buenos Ayres to Monte
Video, by the North and South of the Chico Bank.
_By the North, or Main Channel._
1. From three fathoms in the outer roads, steer E. by S. by the compass,
until Point Santiago of the Ensenada of Barragan bears S.W. by the
compass. Off this point, you will find from 5½ to 6 fathoms of water,
according to the state of the river.
2. When the above-mentioned point bears S.W. steer E.N.E. until you make
the Ortiz Bank, which will be when you lessen your water to 3 or 3½
fathoms. This bank may be approached, on the South side, without danger,
as the water diminishes gradually. It is a very good guide to navigate
in the night, or in thick weather.
3. From 3 fathoms on the Ortiz Bank, steer S.E. by the compass, until
you make Point Indio. In this track, you will deepen your water to 5 or
5½ fathoms, crossing the middle channel, according to the state of the
river. Passing the middle of the channel, the water diminishes
gradually, according as you near the land.
4. When you think you are about 7, 8, or 9 miles from the land, which
will be in 3¼ or 3½ fathoms of water, steer E.S.E. and coast it along.
5. When Point Indio bears S.W. by the compass, steer N.E. by E. until
you see Monte Video, which may be seen about 30 or 33 miles distant from
the top of a common-sized vessel. Keeping your course N.E. by E. you
will continue in 3½ fathoms of water, until you find yourself 6 or 7
leagues from Monte Video.
6. When you find 5 fathoms of water, you will be 9 or 10 miles from the
harbour of Monte Video.
From the said 5 fathoms to the harbour, it will lessen to 2½.
_By the South of the Chico Bank._
1. From 3 fathoms in the outer roads, steer E. by S. as before, until
you have 6 fathoms off Ensenada.
Before you lose sight of the town of Quilmes, you can see Point Lara,
which is easily known by a grove on the side of the river.
S.E. of Point Lara, there is a large _ombu_ tree on Mr. Wright's
_stancia_, distant about 2½ miles.
E.S.E. of Point Lara is the Point and Mount of Santiago, easily seen at
the distance of 7 miles.
2. Having passed the bank of Ensenada, which runs out about 5 miles from
Point Lara to the N.E. by N. steer S.E. by compass, until you find
yourself 5 or 6 miles from land.
3. When 5 or 6 miles from land, steer E.S.E. by compass, to keep along
the shore.
Before you lose sight of Point Santiago, you will see the _ombu_ tree of
the Balandra to the E.S.E. distant about 14 miles, and is one of those
nearest the river.
From this _ombu_, the N.W. point of the Chico Bank bears N. 30° E.
Keeping an E.S.E. course, after you have run a short distance, you will
see Point Atalaya, resembling two mounts. Keeping still on the same
course, you will see many _ombu_ trees; and when you have run about
six miles, you will see a large grove of them, where lies the town of
Magdalene. The church of Magdalene is easily discovered, having two
steeples, the largest at the east.
From this church, the S.W. point of the Chico Bank bears N. 15° E. by
the compass.
Between the Chico Bank and the land, the least water you find is between
the S.E. point and the coast; when the river is low, you have generally
about 17 feet.
Having passed the church, you may keep farther from the shore, as you
have likewise passed the Chico Bank; and keeping on your course E.S.E.
you will see four _ombu_ trees, being the last you will see.
After passing the last _ombu_ trees, the shore is level, with shrubs,
grass, turfs, and junks, until you make Point Indio, about 15 miles
distant.
Point Indio is low level land, with only one tree on it; and to the S.E.
you can see two large groves of tallow wood and espinillos.
These mounts are near Point Piedras and Point Indio.
From Point Indio, the S.E. part of the Ortiz Bank bears N. 30° E. by
compass, distant about 14 miles.
* * * * *
INSTRUCTIONS for sailing from Monte Video to Buenos Ayres, when
passing by the Channels to the North and to the South of the Chico
Bank.
_By the North side of the Chico Bank._
1. Being athwart the points which form the Port of Monte Video, steer to
the S.W. of the compass for the space of thirty miles.
2. Then change to the W.S.W. of the compass, until you can make out la
Punta del Indio, or Point Indian.
3. Having made Cape Indian, steer to the W. of the compass, until the
bearing of the said Cape be at S.S.W. distant 7 or 8 miles.
4. As soon as you have the Cape Indian to the S.S.W. of the compass,
steer to the N.W. in order to make the two first buoys of the Ortiz
Bank, which you will approach at the distance of about one or half a
mile, being cautious to have 15 feet water, in case there should be
little water in the river.
5. Here, you will change your course to the W. of the compass, taking
care to pass to the distance of the two last buoys, which are to the
N.W. of Chico Bank; for if the river should ebb with rapidity, and there
should be a strong current on the larboard-tack, you would run the risk
to pass too near. Continue to steer to the W. by which means you will
make out Ensenada, and the Point Lara, which last you will recognise by
a tufted tree, called the _ombu_, which is to the S.E. of this point;
and on the brink of the river, before you are out of sight of Point
Lara, you will perceive a small wood of _ombus_, situated on the hill
of the village of Quilmes; afterwards you will see the towers of Buenos
Ayres, and the vessels anchored in the roads, towards which you will
direct yourself.
_From Punta del Indio, or Cape Indian, passing to the Southward of the
Chico Bank._
_Observation, to know La Punta del Indio, or Cape Indian._--Making
sail to the N.W. at a distance of about 7 or 8 miles from La Punta de
Piedras, or Point Piedras, you observe, to the N.W. of this Point, two
woods of _talas_ (American trees), visible at a distance of about 7
miles from the said Cape.
To the N.W. of this wood of _talas_, there is a plain, which extends
about 4 miles. You will perceive then a small wood, or copse, remarkable
by a tree of _tala_, which forms the Point of Cape Indian.
When you have made the Cape Indian to the S.S.W. distance about 7 to
8 miles, steer to the W.N.W. of the compass; you will discover three
_ombus_ (tufted trees) upon the hills, upon the land of the Magdalene,
distant about one league from the river. Continuing your course, you
will observe six _ombus_, situated in the Village of Magdalene, and
which appear to be on the same line; at the fifth _ombu_ you will
perceive the Church, with its two little towers; that of the E. is
larger than that of the W. Observe, that the first buoy, placed to the
S.E. of the Bank Chico, is to the N. 15° E. of the compass from this
church.
In making the first _ombu_ S.S.W. of the compass, at a distance from
land of about 6 miles, you will see, with a spy-glass, to the N.W. in
running over the horizon, and of the elevation of an ordinary-size
vessel. When the weather is clear, and a smooth sea, you will see just
5 miles distance, the buoy which is placed upon the Bank Chico, and upon
a bottom of 3 fathoms. To the W.N.W. of this buoy, distance of 3 miles,
there is only 1½ fathom. In passing one mile to the S. of this same
buoy, you will discover another to the W. ¾ N.W. distant 4 miles. When
you have passed the second buoy, you can sail without any fear to the
W.N.W. at a distance from land of about 7 or 8 miles; because the Bank
Chico pointed out by the second buoy remains to the N.N.W. of the
compass.
Passing the two buoys situated to the S.E. of the Bank Chico, and
continuing to sail W.N.W. you will distinguish several _ombus_ situated
upon some hills. When you close in the two small woods of _talas_, upon
the side of the river, then you close in to the Point of the Atalaya,
and arrive to the small wood, or copse of _talas_, you will have passed
the Bank Chico.
Leaving the copse of _talas_, the coast is very low, and presents small
regions of sand, to a distance of about 6 miles; that which follows, and
which is more raised, is the Forest of Santiago of the Ensenada: to the
end of this Forest, there is three leagues of length; it is the Point,
or Cape de Santiago of Ensenada of Barragan: arrived there, follow the
same directions that have been given in the first course from Monte
Video to Buenos Ayres.
_Observations._
In the passage from Monte Video to the Southern Coast, the bottom is
bad, as well as in the environs of Cape Indian.
From Cape Indian, as far as the first _ombu_, situated upon the land of
the Magdalene, you must not anchor nearer than 6 or 7 miles from the
shore, because there is a ridge of rocks, which extends itself to more
than 5 miles, and on which anchors will not hold.
_Variation of Depth of Water from Monte Video to Buenos Ayres, between
the Banks Ortiz and Chico._
Leaving Monte Video, having the Cape to the S.W. you will find 2½ or 3
fathoms of water; at 9 miles, you will find 5 fathoms; at 18 miles from
thence, you will not find more than 3½ fathoms; at 30 miles farther, you
will have a quarter of a fathom less; proceed 33 miles farther, and the
sounding lead will give you once more 3½ fathoms; in short you will find
the same depth of 3½ fathoms, until you find yourself within six miles
of the Southern Coast.
From Cape Indian, with the 3½ fathoms, steering to N.W. towards the Bank
Ortiz, the sounding lead will give you from 4½ to 5 fathoms, according
as the river flows or ebbs; when you do not find more than 3 fathoms,
then you will be on the brink of the Bank Ortiz.
From the 3 fathoms from the brink of the Bank Ortiz, steer to the W.
towards Buenos Ayres; your soundings will increase progressively from 5½
to 6 fathoms, according as the river is either low or high.
At the commencement of the 6 fathoms, you will make the Point of
Santiago of Ensenada to the S.W. of the compass.
This same depth of water continues, until you find yourself N. & S. with
the Point or Cape Lara. Keep always steering to the W. of the compass,
as before mentioned, and the soundings will diminish to 3 fathoms. If,
during this passage, the river ebbed, you would have 3 fathoms from the
Village des Quilmes.
By the course, and the differences of soundings above-mentioned, you
will be able to navigate by night, or when the weather will not permit
you to make out the marks.
Between the two Buoys which are placed to the N.W. of the Bank Chico and
Ortiz, you will find 5½ and 6 fathoms, according as the river is high or
low.
Between the Banks Chico and Ortiz, the anchorage is good, and the
anchors hold tolerably well.
In the environs of the Bank Ortiz, vessels are less subject to part from
their anchors, because the bottom is mud and sand.
From the Cape Indian to Buenos Ayres, the currents flow from the E.S.E.
to the W.N.W.; their rapidity is much about from 1½ to 2 miles an hour.
In tacking, when the wind is contrary, a great deal of way can be made
by means of the currents.
From the S.E. extremity of the Bank Ortiz, to the S.E. extremity of
the Bank Chico, as you gradually proceed up the river, you will find
yourself nearer the Bank Ortiz than the land; you will keep taking from
3 fathoms along the chain of rocks which run along the coast, until 3
short fathoms on the side of the Bank Ortiz. Observe, that during this
tack, when you find yourself in 4 or 4½ fathoms, you are then nearer the
bank than the land.
Having doubled the Bank Ortiz, you can safely proceed until you have 3
fathoms of water; for the depth diminishes gradually.
In tacking about between the Bank Chico and Ortiz, you can, as before
said, run your tacks upon all the points of the Bank Ortiz as long as
you are in 3 fathoms water. But in the tacks which you run upon the Bank
Chico, you must put about ship as soon as the sounding line does not
give you more than 4 fathoms, because this bank is full of pointed
rocks, particularly at the place where the second buoy is placed, upon
the point from the N.W. to the S.E.; it is also equally rocky from the
first buoy to the S.E. as far as three miles to the W.N.W. because on
the two points you find no more than 1½ fathom water.
* * * * *
POSITIONS of the TEN BUOYS placed on different Banks in the River Plate.
_Upon the Bank Chico there are Four Red Buoys._
1st. Is placed at the S.E. extremity of the Bank Chico, on a bottom of 3
fathoms. From this Point, you make the Magdalene Church at the S. 15° W.
of the compass.
2d. Is placed at the S. extremity of the Bank, on a bottom of 3 fathoms.
It is situated at the W. ¼ N.W. of the first, distant 4 miles: you make
the Church, at 15° E.
3d. Is situated to the N. ¼ N.W. of the second, distant 4 miles, upon a
bottom of 1½ fathom; it is in the middle of the Bank. You make the Point
of Atalaya to the S.W. of the compass.
4th. Is placed at the N.W. extremity of the Bank, on a bottom of 3
fathoms, to the W.N.W. of the third, distant 4 miles. You make the Point
of Atalaya to the S. 24° W. of the compass, distant 10½ miles.
_Upon the Bank Ortiz are placed Four Black Buoys._
1st. Is at the S.E. extremity of the Bank Ortiz, on a bottom of 3
fathoms. From the buoy, you make Cape Indian to the S.W. ¼ S. of the
compass: you will, at the same time, see, from the deck of a vessel of
an ordinary size, and on a clear day, the buoy, and the coast of Cape
Indian.
2d. Is at the S. extremity of the Bank Ortiz, on a bottom of 3 fathoms,
and to the N.N.E. of the buoy of the S.E. of the Bank Chico.
3d. Is placed upon the side of the Bank Ortiz, on a bottom of 3 fathoms,
to the N.N.E. of the middle of the Bank Chico.
4th. Finds itself upon the Bank Ortiz, by 3 fathoms, and to the N. of
the one of the N.W. of the Bank Chico.
_To the Ensenada de Barragan, on the Banks of Santiago and Lara, are
placed Two Black Buoys._
1st. Black Buoy is upon the Bank of Santiago, in 3 fathoms: the bearing
of this buoy has the Point of the Santiago to the S. 28° E. and Point
Lara to the S. 53° W. of the compass.
2nd. Black Buoy is placed upon the Bank Lara, on a bottom of two
fathoms, on the bearing of Point Lara to the S.E. ¼ S. and the Point
of Santiago to the S. 63° E.
These two buoys are placed to warn Navigators to pass to the Northward.
_Observations._
The Bank Chico is not parallel with the S. coast, because, from the
first buoy of S.E. you take the bearing of the third buoy to the N. 42°
W. of the compass. This bank is nine miles in length.
This Bank forms to the N. a pretty considerable bay; it extends itself
from the buoy of the S.E. to a distance of 4 miles to the N.W. In the
middle of this bay, you have 3½ fathoms; but in steering to the S.S.W.
of the compass, at a distance of 150 fathoms, you will only find 1½
fathom.
In the S. part, this bank forms another bay; it extends itself from the
buoy of the N.W. as far as that of the Point of the S. in the direction
of the S.E. ¼ S. distance about 6 miles; and in all this bay, in
following the edge of the bank, there is 3½ fathom water.
THE END.
Printed by R. Macdonald, 30, Great Sutton Street, Clerkenwell, London.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Note: Some page numbers listed in the Table of Contents
have been changed to more accurately denote the appropriate page. No
attempt has been made to standardize spelling inconsistencies within
this text. However, a few printing errors have been amended and noted
within the following table.
Page | Original Word | Amended Word
-----+---------------+-------------
vii | Processsion | Procession
11 | Saliors | Sailors
20 | Dominician | Dominican
38 | subscriber. | subscriber.[9]
48 | bilghted | blighted
130 | musc | music
139 | Gregogorio | Gregorio
163 | orignal | original