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

CHAPTER VI. Beagle sails with Paz and Liebre — Part company — Beagle visits Buenos Ayres — Nautical remarks on the Plata— Sail from Monte Video for San Bias— Lieut. Wickham and tenders— Butterflies— Sail for Tierra del Fuego— White-water — Icebergs— Rocks— Cape San Sebastian Oens-men — Cape San Diego — Good Success Bay — Natives— Guana- coes— Cape Horn— St. Martin Cove — Gales— Heavy Seas — Nassau Bay— Goree Road— Prepare to land Matthews and the Fuegians. 18th October. No person who had only seen the Paz and Liebre in their former wretched condition, would easily have recognised them after being refitted, and having indeed almost a new equipment. Spars altered, and improved rigging, well-cut sails, fresh paint,* and thorough cleanliness, had transformed the dirty sealing craft into smart little cock-boats : and as they sailed out of Port Belgrano with the Beagle, their appear- ance and behaviour were by no means discouraging. At dusk, Lieutenant Wickham and his small party of ven- turous associates separated from us, and steered into False Bay.f The Beagle anchored for the night, and next day pur- sued her route towards Monte Video, where she arrived on the 26th. Desirous of communicating with the Government at Buenos Ayres, and measuring the difference of meridians between that city and Monte Video, we weighed anchor on the 31st, pro- ceeded up the river, and remained in the outer roadstead, off Buenos Ayres, until the 10th of November. We then em- ployed three days in verifying the positions of some banks,:|: as laid down in Heywood's and other charts, and returned to Monte Video on the 14th. • Or rather red-ochre, coal-tar, and white-wash* t See orders to Lieut. Wickham, in the Appendix. J Ortiz, Chico, and Ensenada.