192 CHARLES DARWIN 



pebbles, like those which compose the beach and the sur- 

 rounding plains. It runs in a winding course through a 

 valley, which extends in a direct line westward. This valley 

 varies from five to ten miles in breadth ; it is bounded by 

 step-formed terraces, which rise in most parts, one above the 

 other, to the height of five hundred feet, and have on the 

 opposite sides a remarkable correspondence. 



April ipth. Against so strong a current it was, of 

 course, quite impossible to row or sail: consequently the 

 three boats were fastened together head and stern, two hands 

 left in each, and the rest came on shore to track. As the 

 general arrangements made by Captain Fitz Roy were very 

 good for facilitating the work of all, and as all had a share 

 in it, I will describe the system. The party including every 

 one, was divided into two spells, each of which hauled at the 

 tracking line alternately for an hour and a half. The offi- 

 cers of each boat lived with, ate the same food, and slept 

 in the same tent with their crew, so that each boat was 

 quite independent of the others. After sunset the first level 

 spot where any bushes were growing, was chosen for our 

 night's lodging. Each of the crew took it in turns to be 

 cook. Immediately the boat was hauled up, the cook made 

 his fire; two others pitched the tent; the coxswain handed 

 the things out of the boat; the rest carried them up to the 

 tents and collected firewood. By this order, in half an hour 

 everything was ready for the night. A watch of two men 

 and an officer was always kept, whose duty it was to look 

 after the boats, keep up the fire, and guard against Indians. 

 Each in the party had his one hour every night. 



During this day we tracked but a short distance, for there 

 were many islets, covered by thorny bushes, and the chan- 

 nels between them were shallow. 



April 20th. We passed the islands and set to work. Our 

 regular day's march, although it was hard enough, carried 

 us on an average only ten miles in a straight line, and per- 

 haps fifteen or twenty altogether. Beyond the place where 

 we slept last night, the country is completely terra incognita, 

 for it was there that Captain Stokes turned back. We saw 

 in the distance a great smoke, and found the skeleton of a 

 horse, so we knew that Indians were in the neighbourhood. 



