Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

Oct. 1832. ABSURD ALARMS. 113 our officers, instruments and guns — to which an answer had been immediately returned, desiring the commandant to afford us every facility in his power, and checking the old major rather sharply for his officious and unnecessary caution. Had we not been hastily treated in the roads of Buenos Ayres, when I went there to communicate with the Government, and obtain information, I should doubtless have carried with me orders, or a letter, to this commandant, which would have prevented a moment's suspicion : but, as it happened, no real delay was occasioned, and no person was much disturbed except the major, who fancied that our brass guns were dis- guised field-pieces, our instruments lately invented engines of extraordinary power, our numerous boats intended expressly for disembarking troops ; and an assertion of mine, that any number of line-of-battle ships might enter the port, a sure indication that the Beagle was sent to find a passage for large ships : which would soon appear, and take possession of the country. Such was the substance of his communication to the Government at Buenos Ayres, and as he acted as secretary (Rodriguez being a man of action rather than words) — he had free scope for his disturbed imagination. I shall not easily forget his countenance, when I first told him — thinking he would be glad to hear it — that there was a deep channel leading from Blanco Bay to the Guardia near Argentina, and that a hne-of-battle ship could approach within gunshot of the place where I first met the commandant. He certainly thought himself almost taken prisoner ; and I really believe that if he had been commanding officer, we should have been sent in chains to Buenos Ayres, or perhaps stiU worse treated. Fortunately, Rodriguez the commandant, being a brave man, and a gentleman, contemplated no such measures. VOL. II.