Feb. 1829. WATER—GALE—DEPARTURE. 191 
On the night of the 2d of February we experienced another 
very severe pampero, during which one of the Beagle’s boats, 
hauled up on shore, was blown to atoms. The barometer had 
previously fallen to 29:39. 
On the 9th of February, we went to Monte Video, and on the 
17th ran up the north side of the river for water; but did not 
find it fresh until we were within four miles of Cape ‘Jesus 
Maria.” The wind was against our return, so that we had to 
beat down the river, in doing which the Adelaide grounded, 
but without receiving any injury. We anchored twice in our 
passage out, and, at the second anchorage, * experienced a 
very heavy westerly gale. In attempting to weigh at its com- 
mencement, our windlass was so much injured, that we were 
obliged to ride the gale out, which we did by veering to one 
hundred and ten fathoms of chain cable; and the Beagle, to 
one hundred and fifty fathoms. Owing to a short heavy sea, in 
which the Adventure frequently pitched her bowsprit and stern 
alternately under water, her jolly-boat was washed away. This 
loss we could ill afford, as we were already three boats short of 
our establishment, and wants; and as the Adelaide had suffered 
severely, by losing her topmast and jib-boom, and carrying 
away the head of her bowsprit, we were obliged to return, very 
reluctantly, after the gale had subsided, to Monte Video; whence 
we finally sailed on the Ist of March. On the 5thaS8.S.E. 
gale separated us from our consorts, our course, therefore, was 
directed for the first rendezvous, at Port Desire. 
When off Cape Blanco, the high land of Espinosa, in the 
interior, was clearly distinguished at a distance of sixty miles, 
and might probably be seen twenty miles further ; so that its 
height must be, at least, four thousand feet. This range is of 
irregular form, and has several peaked summits, sovery different 
from the general features of this coast, where the heights are 
either flat-topped, or of an undulating outline, that I suppose 
the rock to be of a character unlike that of the porphyry hills 
common hereabouts. 
* From which the Mount (at Monte Video) bore N. 11°. W., distant 
eight leagues. 
