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

1835. POTATOES— THEFT MISCONDUCT. 459 town, though in truth only a very small village : but latterly, the river Leiibu- has scarcely been noticed, except as the last retreat of the pirate Benavides. Nevertheless it is a situation admirably adapted for a commercial as well as agricultural settlement. Though bread and other things were deficient, the ship- wrecked party never knew the want of water, and they had always an abundant supply of a very fine kind of potato, which perhaps is hardly to be surpassed in size or quality by any in the world. Not one of the ofiicers of the Challenger had seen its equal, and I never recollect eating any that were so good, and at the same time so large.* Neither beef nor mutton were scarce, in consequence of the 'credit'* obtained by Mr. Rouse. Money was soon exhausted, but the high cha- racter of the consul was known all over the country, and the natives trusted implicitly to his word. The report of a ' wreck' had quickly drawn numerous plun- derers, even from Concepcion and Talcahuano : but those pil- ferers satisfied themselves secretly, I believe, without attempt- ing any daring robbery. During the confusion of the first day no doubt much was stolen by Indians, and hidden in the neighbourhood : since many articles were sold to the Tal- cahuano people for spirits or tobacco, and being taken by them to that place, occasioned a report of the officers and crew having been stripped and plundered. But it must not be supposed that Captain Seymour and his ofiicers had no internal troubles, and that strangers were their only foes. Shameful acts of robbery were committed by some of the Challenger's own party : a very few of her marines scrupling not to rifle chests and boxes belonging to officers. This conduct, in connexion with . a spirit of insubordination which began to show itself, among some of those who knew Captain Seymour the least, occasioned his calling the crew together on the beach, and causing one man to be corporally punished. * The oflScers of the Blonde were of a similar opinion, after trying- a great many that were sent on board from the Leiibu.