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

28 BEAGLE AND HOPE SAIL. Jan. 1827. of the sea. It is the highest land that I have seen in Tierra del Fuego ; and to us, indeed, it was an object of considerable interest, because its appearance and disappearance were seldom failing weather guides. In our Meteorological Diary, a colunni was ruled for the insertion of its appearances.* This clear state of the atmosphere was followed by a heavy fall of rain, with northerly and easterly winds, which did not, however, last long. In the vicinity of our tents erected on the low land, on the S. W. side of the bay, were several ponds of water, perfectly fit for immediate use ; but, perhaps, too much impregnated with vegetable matter to keep good for any length of time. Captain Stokes, therefore, filled his tanks from the river ; but as that water did not keep well, it was probably taken into the boat too near the sea. This, however, was unavoidable, except by risking the boats among a great number of sunken trees in the bed of the river. The Beagle sailed on the 15th, to survey the western entrance of the Strait, with orders to return to Port Famine by the end of March. Our decked boat, the Hope, being ready, the command of her was given to Mr. Wickham, who was in every way qua- lified for the trust. We were, however, much mortified by finding that she leaked so considerably as to oblige us to unload, and again haul her on shore. When ready for sea, she sailed under the direction of my assistant-surveyor, Mr. Graves, to examine the St. Sebastian channel and the deep opening to the S.E. of Cape Valentyn. Her crew con- sisted of seven men, besides Mr. Wickham, and Mr. Rowlett, the purser. Having despatched the Beagle and the Hope, I was at leisure to carry on the survey of the coast in the neighbourhood of Port Famine, and to make a plan of the port itself. The * At a subsequent visit, embracing' a period of 190 days, it was only seen ou twenty-five, and during seven days only was it constantly visible. On the remaijiing eighteen, portions only were seen, and those but for a few hours at a time.