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

47S DISCOVER AND REACH LEUBU. July lights also were occasionally burned during the nights, in hopes that the schooner might see them. On the 5th of July, the day broke clearly for the first time during the longest week I ever passed, and we saw the land distinctly, from Cape Rumena to Tirua, with Mocha Island, strange to say, for the first time — near it as we had often been. Now that the tops of the hills were quite free from fog or cloud, I recognised the Heights of Tucapel at the first glance ; and after looking for some minutes at their summits, through a good glass, I distinctly saw smoke rising. Standing towards them — in half an hour flags were discerned on the heights, and there was no longer any doubt ; yet no steps were taken until near one o'clock, though it was a beautiful, and almost calm day. From nine in the morning vmtil one, the Blonde lay almost becalmed, about five miles from the land. At one, three boats were sent to the mouth of the Leiibu, with some money and a small supply of bread ; but a current setting along the shore from the northward delayed their reaching the entrance of the river until evening. We found the greater part of the Challenger's crew still in health ; but delay and bad weather had increased the sick-list, and two of her party (the assistant-surgeon and a young mid- shipman) were in danger : waiting so long in uncertainty, and without employment, in a wet, dirty place, had tried all their constitutions severely. It was too late to attempt going out into the offing after the Blonde, (which was standing to sea) with the gig and cutter, two indifferent boats ; so manning the barge with a double crew, one crew being men of the Challenger, and taking one of her officers (Lieutenant Collins) with me, I hastened out of the river as the sun was setting. A light breeze from the land favoured us, and though the Blonde was hull down in the south-west when we started, we were happy enough to get on board at about eight o'clock. In going off to the ship after it became dark, we kept the end of a piece of old gun-breeching burning, held up in the bow of the boat. The light, as strong almost as that of a false fire, was seen plainly on board the ship, and then she was hove-to.