352 WALKING PARTY — VIEWS. May 



We were all very tired of the monotonous scene, as well as 

 of the labour of hauling the boats along. 



4th. Our provisions being almost exhausted, and the river 

 as large as it was beyond the lava country, our allotted time 

 being out, and every one weary and foot-sore, I decided upon 

 walking overland to the westward, as far as we could go in one 

 day, and then setting out on our return to the Beagle. I was 

 the more inclined to this step, because the river here made a 

 southerly bend, to follow which would have required at least a 

 day, without making much westing, and because I thought 

 that some of our party might walk in that time at least twice 

 as far as they could track the boats, and then return before 

 night. To have followed the course of the river two days longer, 

 we should have needed all the small remainder of our provi- 

 sions, and probably without being enabled to see further than 

 we might by one day's walk directly westward. Leaving those 

 who were the most tired to take care of the boats, a party 

 set out early, in light marching order. A large plain lay 

 before us, over which shrubs, very small trees, and bushes were 

 sparingly scattered ; yet parts of this plain might be called 

 fertile and woody, by comparison with the tracts between us 

 and the eastern sea-coast. 



At noon we halted on a rising ground, made observations 

 for time, latitude, and bearing ; rested and eat our meal ; on 

 a spot which we found to be only sixty miles from the nearest 

 water of the Pacific Ocean. The Cordillera of the Andes 

 extended along the western side of our view ; the weather was 

 very clear, enabling us to discern snow-covered mountains far 

 in the north, and also a long way southward ; hence much of 

 the range was visible, but of the river we could discern nothing. 

 Only from the form of the land could we conclude that at the 

 end of the southerly reach I have mentioned, the direction of 

 the river is nearly east and- west for a few miles, and that then 

 it may turn northward, or rather come from the north along 

 the base of the Cordillera. 



There are many reasons for inducing one to suppose that it 

 comes not only from the north, but from a considerable dis- 



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