232 NOTES OF A NATURALIST, 



and ships are much exposed to lose their anchors. 

 Although we arrived some time before sunset, the 

 evening was so dark, and the general aspect of things 

 so discouraging, that no one suggested an attempt to 

 go ashore. Although we were quite near to land, I 

 could make out very little of the outlines ; and, indeed, 

 of this middle portion of the voyage I have retained 

 no distinct pictures in my memory. 



It struck me as very singular that, with a moderately 

 strong breeze from the north, the barometer should 

 have stood so high, remaining through the day at 

 about 30'3 inches, and marking at nine p.m. 30"28. 

 The temperature, as was to be expected, was higher, 

 than on the previous day, being about 40° during the 

 day, and not falling at night below 35°. 



Although the morning showed some improvement 

 in the appearance of the weather, the sky was gloomy 

 when, after a little trouble in raising the anchor, we 

 got under way early on the 7th of June. The clouds 

 lifted occasionally during the day, and I enjoyed some, 

 brief glimpses of grand scenery ; but the only distinct 

 impression I retained was that of hopeless bewilder- 

 ment in attempting to make out the positions of the 

 endless labyrinth of islands through which we threaded 

 our way. In spite of all that has been done, it seems 

 as if there remained the work of many surveying ex- 

 peditions to complete the exploration of these coasts. 

 As to several of the eminences that lie on the eastern 

 side of the channel, it is yet uncertain whether they 

 are islands or peninsulas projecting from the main- 

 land. It was announced that our next anchorage was 

 to be at Puerto Bueno, there being no other suitable 



