FURTHER PROGRESS IMPEDED. 145 



we continued our voyage. On the shore we 

 met with a small rattlesnake, which might have 

 been a dangerous neighbour. It was, however, 

 his destiny to become our prize, and enrich the 

 collection of Dr. Eschscholtz. The river now 

 took a north-westerly direction. Its breadth 

 was from two hundred and fifty to three 

 hundred fathoms, independently of numerous 

 branches on the east side, flowing between vari- 

 ous small islands. The country on the west 

 bank was of a moderate height; that on the 

 east was low. The power of the current im- 

 peded our progress, though our rowers exerted 

 all their strength. As the sun advanced to- 

 wards the meridian, the north wind also rose 

 again ; so that with our utmost efforts we 

 could advance but little, and at noon we were 

 obliged to lay-to again, having proceeded only 

 ten miles the whole day. The latitude on the 

 western shore, where we now landed, was 

 38^' 27', and the longitude 122° 10'. 



Here we had reached what proved the termi- 

 nation of our little voyage. The unfavourable 

 state of the weather would not allow of our 



VOL. II. H 



