6 
HERALD 
On the 16th of April the expedition left the Bay of Panama, and on the 13th of June 
reached the Fort of Victoria, Vancouver's Island. The months of July and August were 
occupied in surveying the Straits of Juan de Puca, and on the 19th of Scptemljcr the ships 
departed for San Prancisco, California. After a stay of a few days in the gold country, the 
voyage was continued. Various islands of Lower California, Magdalena Bay, Matzatlan, and 
San Bias were visited, and on the 5th of December the vessels anchored off the town of 
Sijuatenejo. War between North America and the Republic of Mexico being at its height. 
Captain Kellett and several oificers and seamen, having been mistaken by the Mexicans 
for citizens of the United States, were detained as prisoners until the 12th of December. 
Having paid a visit to Acapulco, and measmxd some of the volcanoes of Guatemala, the 
vessels sailed for Panama, where they arrived on the 17th of January, 1847, and were johied 
by Mr. Berthold Seemann, who had been sent out to fill the vacancy occasioned by tlie death 
of Mr. T. Edmonston, and y^\o had been exploring since September, 1846, various districts 
of the Isthmus of Panama. 
Until the end of April the ships were employed surveying the Bay of Panama, and then 
sailed for Callao, where, after touching at Payta, they arrived on the 28th of June. The 
Herald remamed in that port until the 23d of July, when she proceeded to Payta, where 
Messrs. Berthold Seemann and Bedford Pirn started on a journey which led through the 
Perurian deserts, and the towns of Piura, Loja, and Cuenca, to Guayaquil ; the Herald 
mcanwhUe surveying the river Guayaquil. After the completion of that task Captain KcUctt 
steered northwards, visiting Punta St. Elena, Salango, Manta, Punta Galera, the river Sua, 
Tumaco, and the Bay of Choco, everywhere pursuing the object of his mission On the 
14th of November the Herald reached the island of Plaminco, Bay of Panama, and continued 
the sun^ey of the Bay. On the 5th of Pebruary, 1848, the task was finished, and tlius 
completed the entire sur;'ey of South America. The remaining portion of the dry season 
was occupied in surveying the island of Coyba and the adjacent shores, and on the 24th 
of April the Herald returned to Panama roads. 
The Herald up to this time had been a surveying vessel, she was now to enter upon a 
new career, that of a rehef ship. The fate of Sir John Pranklin beginning to excite appro 
hension^ Captam KeUett received orders to proceed to the Polar seasl order to toZ ^ 
of H. M.S. Plover but as no tidi.^T. \^"''"^8l't m the Sound, awaiting tlie arrival 
