Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.1): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

HORACE PEAKS BOAT LOST. 391 " Feb. 2d. Still very squally and unsettled. This gale began at N.N.W., and drew round to S.S.W. Much rain comes usually from the N.W. quarter; and as the wind draws south- ward, the weather becomes clearer. The squalls from the southern quarter bring a great deal of hail with them. " 3d. I was enabled to take a round of angles from Horace Peaks, over the ship, the sky being clear near the horizon. The theodolite had been left near the top since the 28th, each day having been too bad to use it. These peaked hills required time and exertion in the ascent ; but the wide range of view obtained from their summits on a clear day, amply repaid us for both. If the height was sufficient, it gave a bird's-eye view of many leagues, and showed at a glance where channels lay, which were islands, and what was the nature of the surrounding land and water. The shattered state of all these peaks is remarkable : frost, I think, must be the chief causa " After being deceived by the magnetism of Mount Skyring and other places, I never trusted the compass on a height, but always set up a mark near the water, at some distance, and from it obtained the astronomical bearing of my station at the summit. This afternoon we prepared the ship to proceed as soon as the master should arrive. " 4th. Moderate weather. I was surprised that the master did not make his appearance ; yet, having full confidence in his prudent manageixient, and knowing that he had been all the time among islands, upon an^; one of which he could haul up his boat and remain in safety during the gales, I did not feel much anxiety, but supposed he was staying to take the necessary angles and observations, in trhich he had been delayed by the very bad weather we had lately experienced. " At three this morning (5th), I was called up to hear that the whale-boat was lost — stolen by the natives ; and that her coxswain and two men had just reached the ship in a clumsy canoe, made like a large basket, of wicker-work covered with pieces of canvas, and lined with clay, very leaky, and difiicult to paddle. They had been sent by the master, who, with the other people, was at the cove under Cape Desolation, where