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37
as usual. We were compelled to lay too again at night Lat 27° 08' South Long 48° 33' West

Saturday March 17th 1849. Warm and Clear. light wind from the East. The land this morning appeared to be about 8 or 10 miles distant. We were directing our course for entering the South Channel as it is called. An island at the entrance divides the Main Channel in two, and is called the North and South Passage. This channel which divides the Island of St Catharines from the Main land is from 2 to 5 miles wide, dotted with several small Islands, some of which in the distance resemble huge tufts of grass. We moved along slowly probably at the rate of 3 or 4 miles an hour, thereby giving us an excellent opportunity to examine the Shores. As we entered the Channel we met a Vessel coming out, which proved to be by their Signal the Bark Croton from New York and bound for California. She left New York May 14th 8 days before us. About 12 or 15 miles up the Channel. from the entrance, are two Old Forts, and from their appearances are nearly in ruins. One on the Island of St Catharines. the other on a Small Island nearly opposite, and contiguous to the Main Land, where abreast of the last named Fort. A small boat rowed out to. and hailed us, the Officer, a young Brazillian who accompanied it, came on Board of us, and after making a few inquiries, relative to our wants, destination, and the Port from whence we came &c requested the Capt to drop anchor in front and near to the Fort, and remain there 6 days at Quarantine--  The Government of Brazil enforce the Quarantine regulations upon all Vessels arriving here from the United States, on account of ^[[the]] Cholera which they learned existed there to an alarming