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

352 WALKING PARTY — VIEWS. May We were all very tired of the monotonous scene, as well as of the labour of hauling the boats along. 4th. Our provisions being almost exhausted, and the river as large as it was beyond the lava country, our allotted time being out, and every one weary and foot-sore, I decided upon walking overland to the westward, as far as we could go in one day, and then setting out on our return to the Beagle. I was the more inclined to this step, because the river here made a southerly bend, to follow which would have required at least a day, without making much westing, and because I thought that some of our party might walk in that time at least twice as far as they could track the boats, and then return before night. To have followed the course of the river two days longer, we should have needed all the small remainder of our provi- sions, and probably without being enabled to see further than we might by one day's walk directly westward. Leaving those who were the most tired to take care of the boats, a party set out early, in light marching order. A large plain lay before us, over which shrubs, very small trees, and bushes were sparingly scattered ; yet parts of this plain might be called fertile and woody, by comparison with the tracts between us and the eastern sea-coast. At noon we halted on a rising ground, made observations for time, latitude, and bearing ; rested and eat our meal ; on a spot which we found to be only sixty miles from the nearest water of the Pacific Ocean. The Cordillera of the Andes extended along the western side of our view ; the weather was very clear, enabling us to discern snow-covered mountains far in the north, and also a long way southward ; hence much of the range was visible, but of the river we could discern nothing. Only from the form of the land could we conclude that at the end of the southerly reach I have mentioned, the direction of the river is nearly east and- west for a few miles, and that then it may turn northward, or rather come from the north along the base of the Cordillera. There are many reasons for inducing one to suppose that it comes not only from the north, but from a considerable dis- 4