Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2- Appendix): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

APPENDIX. ' 181 the temporary rigging up, to secure the stump of the foremast which had carried away the wedges in the partners, and had about three inches play in the step, from the heel of the mast being decayed nearly the whole of the standing rigging was lost, from night coming on, and it being necessary to get the wreck clear of the vessel as soon as possible, lest it should carry away the rudder, and other- wise damage the hull of the vessel. Not ha^'ing an axe, or any thing but a cooper's drawing-knife, that would cut the rigging in the eyes, which had hide on them that had been placed there several years before, we were obUged to haul it up taut and cut on the rail, thereby rendering it useless for any thing but junk. There were scarcely any nails on board the vessel ; and it was with the greatest difficulty we succeeded, by shifting two cleats up a slippery mast, in getting a tackle each side for shrouds, and a hawser for a stay. At eight, p.m., observed the Blonde north-west one mile ; fired a rocket, and burnt three blue lights ; no answer re- turned. At about midnight we set the jib, peak of foresail, and Beagle's boat sail for a main- sail ; during the whole of this time it was blow- ing fresh from the north-west, wdth heavy rain and a cross sea, which caused the vessel to roll her gunwale under each time ; every one was quite exhausted, particularly those men who had been hanging on the mast, getting the tackles secured, the watch therefore was set until daylight. Tuesday, 30th. Employed getting the foremast better secured, by raising sheers vdth fore-yard and jib-boom, and placing a pair of shrouds on each side, about twenty feet from the deck, and an extra stay to set a stay-sail on, the whole kept up by a few spikes di-awn out of the beams. At ten, a.m. strong winds from the westward, with heavy rain ; saw the north-west extreme of Mocha, bearing south- south-east, three miles distant ; wore to the north-east, to give time to get more sail on the vessel, intending to weather the island, if possible ; if not, to run to leeward, and then stretch off to the south- ward and westward. Noon ; wore, strong vraids and squally, with a heavy head sea ; at two, set foresail, double-reefed ; observed the north- west extreme of Mocha, south by east, one mile and a quarter dis- tant. At three, p.m., when the north-west extreme bore north-east, the wind changed suddenly to south-west, bringing the rocks off the