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

April 1830. barometer — excursions. 427 were plentiful, and easily obtained. Wild-fowl were numerous, and our people brought on board a serviceable supply, enough for all the sick, and for most of those who were in health. " 3d and 4th. Still very fine weather, although the baro- meter and sympiesometer were lower than I had yet seen them in this country. Our Fuegians were becoming very cheerful, and apparently contented. We gave them as much fresh provision (birds and fish) as we could obtain with guns and lines, and hitherto they had fared very well. All that was shot went to one stock, from which it was divided in rotation to the messes, the sick being first provided for, and then the Fuegians. " 5th and 6th. Two more fine days, with a very low glass, shook my faith in the certainty of the barometer and sym- piesometer.* During those days, the wind had been light from N.N.W., and twice before I had known these instruments to be similarly affected during exactly similar wind and wea- ther : once at Fort Desire, on the coast of Patagonia ; and once at Port Gallant, while I was in the Otway Water. " The master went towards the head of Nassau Bay, and Mr. Stokes set out in the opposite direction. Mr. Murray had one of our best chronometers, kept in a box, well packed in wool, but exposed to the temperature of the air. Before going away and after returning, it was kept and rated in the same box on deck, because the variations of temperature in the open air of this climate are small ; much less than a chronometer would experience if alternating between a warm cabin and a cold boat. I was sadly grieved at finding that some Fuegians who arrived were not of the same tribe as our captives, nor even spoke the same language. On the contrary, much enmity appeared to exist between them ; though their colour, fea- tures, and habits were similar. At first, 'York' and 'Boat' would not go near them ; but afterwards took delight in trying to cheat them out of the things they offered to bar- ter ; and mocked their way of speaking and laughing ; point- • The mercury in the barometer fell to 28,94, and the oil in the sym- piesometer to 28,52 ; the thermometer ranging from 40° to 48° (Faht.)