APPENDIX.

Rules of the Port of Buenos Ayres; Dues to be paid by Foreign and National Vessels; Penalties to which those are subject who violate the Laws of the Police, or who attempt to destroy in any manner the line of Buoys established on the Ortiz and Chico Banks, Mount Santiago, and Point Lara, or those which the Government may hereafter establish on other points of the river for the safety of navigators.

RULES OF THE PORT.

Article 1. THE guard ship, in the inner roads, on observing a vessel anchor in the outer roads, will hoist a red flag at the mizen mast, as a signal to the captain of the vessel which has arrived, to proceed towards the shore in his boat.

2. The said captain, taking with him his papers, will go on board the guard ship.

3. On the arrival of the boat, the commandant of the guard ship will desire her to anchor astern, and will then hoist a yellow flag, for the health boat to come and pass the visit.

4. The commandant of the guard ship must not permit any communication between his crew and those of the boat, until after the health visit.

5. The captain will be interrogated by the health and war visit; and if he does not answer truly, he will be tried by the laws of the country.

6. If the weather will not permit the health-boat to pass the visit, the commandant of the guard-ship will wait till they make signals from the shore. Those signals will generally be, to permit the boat of the vessel which has arrived to disembark on the quay. If, nevertheless, the weather be too boisterous, and the boat cannot come on shore, the commandant of the guard-ship may permit the crew to go on board him, and then the guard-ship herself will be considered in a state of quarantine, and must not communicate with any person, be who they may, until after the health visit has passed.

7. When the health visit has fulfilled her office, the commandant of the guard-ship will strike the red and yellow flags, mentioned in the Articles 1st and 3d.

8. Having permission to communicate with the shore, captains will present themselves at the Captain of the Port’s office, where they will fully inform him of the police of the port.

9. On arriving at the anchorage of Point Lara, captains who wish to enter the port of Ensenada, will hoist a flag at the mizen-mast, proceed to the vicinity of the fortress, and there wait the health and war visit. They are expressly forbidden to communicate with any person, under the penalties established by the quarantine laws.

10. Ships of war are an exception; they are not required to conform to the above articles.

11. All ships of war, in which the crew may be attacked by a contagious disorder, will hoist a yellow flag, and be subject to the laws of quarantine.

ANCHORAGE DUES.

For foreign vessels, by the ton, four reals.

For national vessels, from foreign parts, two reals.

The dues mentioned in the two preceding articles must be paid, half on arrival, and half on the departure of the vessel.

National and foreign vessels, which neither take nor receive cargo, will only pay half the dues mentioned above.

Foreign vessels will pay, besides, on their entry, twelve dollars for the health visit, and twelve dollars more upon their departure for the health certificate.

National vessels only pay half for the visit and the health certificate.

The charges for pilots are included in the anchorage dues.

POLICE OF THE PORT.

Article 1. Every vessel anchored in the port of Buenos Ayres must mutually render each other assistance, in case of drifting, or other risk of average. Those who refuse will be subject to the sentence and penalties prescribed by law.

2. In consequence of the little depth of water, it is expressly enjoined to every vessel anchored in the port to have on its anchors correspondent buoys, as vessels coming in and going out, not seeing the buoys, run a risk of striking on the anchors. Those who fail using precaution in this respect will be responsible for the averages and losses that may result from it.

3. Vessels which have not buoys will give notice to the Captain of the Port, who will send some, with a pilot to place them. The anchor must not be raised without a permission to that effect.

4. At the moment of anchoring, the regular pilots will take care to inform the captains, that they may provide themselves with every thing necessary for the anchorage of their vessels; and if the pilot discovers an infraction of this article, he will immediately inform the Captain of the Port, under the penalty of being himself punished with all the rigour prescribed by law, as negligence in this respect may cause the greatest losses and averages.

5. If, in consequence of bad weather, the anchors and cables of a vessel fail to hold, and it can be proved that those same cables and anchors do not correspond with the size of the vessel, or that the cables were in bad condition, then the said vessel shall be responsible for the averages that may be occasioned thereby.

6. Every vessel from foreign parts, who moor themselves in the port, without asking for a pilot at the Captain of the Port’s office, will be, by this proceeding, responsible for all the averages which may be occasioned thereby, and will have no right of claim, in case they suffer damage themselves.

7. Every vessel anchored, who may have its long boat or boat astern, and, seeing another vessel under sail, neglects to haul them up out of the way, not only will forfeit the right to claim in case of average, but will even be responsible for that which such negligence may occasion.

8. It is expressly forbidden to every vessel in the port to throw any thing into the water, of their ballast, or any other object that does not float, under the penalties prescribed by law.

9. It is forbidden to each vessel, under any pretext whatever, except at the moment of her arrival, to fire salutes, in the inner roads at least, without having first obtained permission of the Captain of the Port. The captain of a vessel who infringes upon this article, will be placed at the disposal of the government.

10. Boats belonging to vessels anchored in the outer and inner roads must go on board one hour after sun-set.

11. All boats found on shore after the evening gun, and until the morning gun has been fired, will be dismantled, and the crew punished according to the case and circumstances.

PENALTIES TO WHICH THOSE ARE LIABLE WHO DESTROY IN ANY MANNER THE LINE OF BUOYS ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

Article 1. To throw a kedge anchor, or hold on in any manner whatever to the said buoys, the punishment of the galleys.

2. Those who take them away, or change their places, unless it be by the authority of government, will be punished with all the rigour of the law, even to the penalty of death.

3. They will punish equally those who make a fire on the said buoys, or by any other means attempt to destroy them.

4. Every captain will receive, on his arrival, a copy of these 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 link to 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. A link is provided for each amended word.

The cover for this e-book was created by the transcriber and is granted to the public domain.

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