FAREWELL TO SYDNEY. 499 



&c., on the low lands ; in short, as in Mexico, the 

 traveller finds, in ascending from the sea-coast to 

 the summit of the hills, almost the same successive 

 gradations of climate as in passing from the tropics 

 towards the poles. 



Our final arrangements were soon made ; and on 

 the 18th of February, the Beagle was turning 

 out between the heads.* I cannot for the last time 

 bid adieu to a place, which had become to us as it 

 were a second home, without once more alludino- 

 to the reception I had experienced from its inhabi- 

 tants. To enumerate any particular instances would 

 be invidious ; space forbids me to pay due acknow- 

 ledgments to all. In general, therefore, I must 

 say, that every attention which kindness and hospi- 

 tality could suggest, was paid to the officers of the 

 Beagle, and a debt of gratitude accumulated 

 which it will be difficult to repay. 



Fresh easterly winds in the first instance, and 

 light northerly ones latterly, carried us rapidly to 

 the southward, and towards midnight of the ^Ist, 

 we crossed the parallel of SO'' 31' S.,t steering S. 

 by W. i W. 



* It is worthy of mention, that vessels working in against 

 the ebb tide, should get close under the inner south head be- 

 fore making a board across the entrance, as the stream sets round 

 the north head a knot an hour to the northward, but has a 

 southerly direction from one to two miles off. 



t In tliis latitude a shoal was reported to have been seen by 

 a vessel bound to Sydney, from Banks Strait, in 1838. The 



2k^ 



