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

1833. ' races' SAN JOSE. 311 leagues N.W. of the port (San Jose), he got into one of these races, '^ and could not extricate his vessel. No soundings could be obtained : the sails were useless in consequence of the vio- lent motion and want of wind, where the water was breaking so furiously, though elsewhere a fresh breeze was blowing ; and nothing could be done. The crew took to the rigging, to avoid being washed overboard; and for almost three hours they were tossed about, like an empty bottle in a ripple, before the race abated, with the turn of tide, so as to admit of their sails acting enough to draw them a-head out of the commo- tion. The vessel, though a strong one, was so much shaken and damaged, the horses so much injured, and all hands so much ' scared,' as Harris honestly told me, that he steered back direct for the Negro, forfeited his agreement, and refused to go again. On the 14th March the Paz and Liebre again crossed the bar of the River Negro, and next day they anchored a-breast of the town (Carmen). Lieut. Wickham found that an expedition had been sent from Buenos Ayres for the pur- pose of obliging the Indians to retire beyond (southward of) the Negro ; and, if possible, deprive them of their horses. Bad weather and a heavy sea on the bar, caused by south-east gales, prevented the Paz and Liebre from sailing again until the 11th of April, when they went to Port San Antonio, and afterwards into Port San Jose. Plenty of firewood, and abun- dance of fish, were found at San Antonio ; but no fresh water, except by digging wells. The tide-stream rushes into and out of Port San Jose in a violent manner, especially when opposed by wind ; but after the narrow part of the entrance is passed, all agitation of the water ceases, except what may be caused by wind. It is a barren and desolate place, without wood or fresh water, and too large for a harbour. Our party saw proof of this assertion in the wreck of a small vessel at the north-east part of the port, which had been driven from her anchors and • The tide-races within the bay are less formidable than those off Point Norte, near which our vessels were.