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

CAPE KINNAIRD — SPANIARD HARBOUR — BELL CAPE. 447 much embarrassment in obtaining a place for the boat. On the 7th there was too much sea and wind to admit of our proceeding, so I went to various points sviited for obtaining angles and bearings. One of these stations was a large rock, looking like a tower, which stood alone on a level plain. " ' The weather being less unfavourable and the sea smoother on the 8th, Ave launched our boat and sailed to the eastward. In passing round Cape Kinnaird, great numbers of fur-seal were observed, so many indeed that they completely covered several of the large rocks. " ' Spaniard Harbour proved to be a shallow bay, full of rocks, and dangerous reefs lining the shore, and mthout shelter, although there is anchorage for a vessel. " ' In a large cave in a rock, which forms the south head of a little cove where our boat was secured, I found the recent traces of Indians, who had left bones of guanacoes and birds lying about near the ashes of a large fire. I went into the cave for a considerable distance, until it became too dark to find my way farther, but did not reach the end. Afterwards we sailed to the eastward again, under a treble reefed sail, and landed before dark in a corner between projecting rocks. Numbers of guanacoes were feeding around ; but, after our shooting one of them, they made off. In every place at which we landed, traces of Indians had been found ; yet hitherto we had seen only one party during this trip. The country near us, on the east side of Spaniard Harbour, or rather Bay, seemed level, though here and there were low hills, whose eastern sides were thickly covered with wood : some of the trees (beech) growing large and straight enough to make topmasts or lower yards for a small ship ; though probably their qualities would be unsuitable. " ' May 10th. During a heavy gale, I ascended the highest hill, near the sea, and noticed many rocks, on which the sea was breaking, that I had not seen before. On the 11th we passed through a very dangerous ' tide-race** off Bell Cape. There was little or no wind, but it was scarcely possible to uso our oars, so much was the water agitated : it was heaving