A Five Years' Residence in Buenos Ayres, During the years 1820 to 1825 / Containing Remarks on the Country and Inhabitants; and a Visit to Colonia Del Sacramento

by George Thomas Love

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.