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. coauiMBo conway sails. 479 of the rumoured approach of those hostile tribes of whom Colonel Valenzuela had spoken to me at Arauco. We sailed from Talcahuano with a fair wind, Avhich carried us quickly and pleasantly along-shore ; but crowded, and anx- ious as we were, the ship could not go fast enough for us. The sick people, excepting Mr. Lane, were improving when we reached Valparaiso on the 13th. Much attention and kindness were shown to Captain Seymour by his acquaintance at Valpa- raiso ; but it could not be expected that he should be cheerful, or inclined to see people, excepting intimate friends, at that time ; particularly as the death of Mr. Lane was an additional blow much felt by him. I was very glad when we weighed anchor, on the 17th, for every hour caused an increase of pain- ful feelino;. A fresh fair wind drove us in twenty-four hours to Coquim- bo, where the Conway was at anchor ready for sea. It was then arranged, that all the officers and two-thirds of the crew should go home in the Conway ; and, of course, no small bustle of preparation for so many passengers was caused. Captain* and Mrs. White already occupied one-half of the captain's cabin, and their luggage a considerable space below ; but as both Captain Eden and the senior lieutenant, Johnstone, were bent upon accommodating the ship-wrecked party to the utmost of their power, stowage-room was cleverly contrived. How striking the contrast appeared between the fertility and verdure of the Concepcion country, and the dry barrenness of the naked earth or rocks about Coquimbo. Scarcely any one went on shore ; a mixture of unpleasant feelings occasioned a gloomy heaviness in most of our minds. On the 2Sd, both ships sailed from Coquimbo, and soon afterwards parted company. The Conway stood to the west- ward, ' close-hauled ;' while the Blonde steered towards the north with a fresh southerly wind. What caused the loss of the Challenger.? — is a question not easy to answer with certainty. The error in her reckoning * Then Vice-Consul at Valparaiso.