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. SHOA.L ESCAPE SALT. 499 clear the land, but got out of the scrape and were working towards Hood Island when the man looking out aloft reported a breaker, which proved to be on a rock at the west end of MacGowen shoal. When first seen it was on the horizon, and hardly differed from the topping of a sea ; — once only in about ten minutes it showed distinctly. We steered for it, lowered, two boats, and employed the rest of the day in examining this very dangerous shoal, and fixing its position. One rock at the west end is just a-wash, but there is another under water, except in the hollow of a swell, about half-a-niile to the east- ward, which is exceedingly treacherous. We had two narrow escapes this day; while weighing from Chatham Island, baffling winds sent us a great deal too close to the cliffs before our anchor was up, or the ship under command ; and while sounding along the edge of MacGowen shoal we were drifted so close to the second rock, mentioned above, that I was not sure on which side of us it lay. 14th. Anchored and examined Hood Harbour, having heard there was a sunken rock in it which our boat had not disco- vered, but we found nothing dangerous for a ship. Shoal water and large blocks of lava lie near the shore in the har- bour ; but a vessel must have stood too close in if she touches thereabouts. Left Hood Island at noon, and steered for the •southern part of Charles Island. Having a fine breeze we rounded Saddle Point at eight, and anchored at nine off Black Beach. 15th. I went to Post-Office Bay and near the best landing place, found some excellent salt, which though but small in quantity gives a hint that more may be got elsewhere. 16th. Weighed in the afternoon, having obtained the neces- sary observations, and went to Black Beach Road to take in wood, potatoes, and pigs. We there found a small schooner at anchor, just arrived from Guayaquil, and having, among other things, a bag of letters from England, for the Beagle. That very evening we were to leave Charles Island ; not to return ! In the schooner were some emigrants ; who brought cattle, and information that the governor, Villamil, might be 2 k2