May 1829. FOOD—AWNINGS—BOAT CRUISE. 99) 
for three days, and instead of them, preserved meat¥shell-fish, 
and a large pig, brought from Monte Video, were substituted. 
We found in this, as in almost every Fuegian harbour, abun- 
dance of muscles, limpets, and wild celery ; some fish and some 
wild-fowl. Many of our party thought shags good eating, but 
only one person could be found daring enough to try whether 
old Sir John Narborough was quite warranted in saying that 
a fox was ‘ savoury food,’ and that one repented of his experi- 
ment during a week’s serious illness. 
‘¢ My reason for entirely stopping the use of salt-meat, for a 
few days, was the belief that, at least, two or three days’ change 
of diet is necessary to cause any real alteration in the system ; 
and that it is better to give fresh provisions for three days in 
succession, and salt-meat during the remainder of three weeks, 
than to give fresh-meat at three separate intervals in the same 
period. 
“‘ During the wet weather of these regions, we derived great 
benefit from awnings, painted for the purpose, while refitting at 
Rio de Janeiro and Maldonado: they kept the lower, and a 
great part of the upper deck quite dry, even in heavy rain. 
“May 7th. Mr. Stokes and I set out with a cutter and 
whale-boat, to explore the Jerome Channel. We were well 
provided, with as much as the boats could stow, of what we 
thought likely to be useful during a month’s cruise. Of water 
we took but little, trusting to the wetness of these regions for 
a supply. Each man had his clothes covered with canvas, or 
duck, well painted; and instead of a hat, every one had a 
£ south-wester ’ (like a coal-heaver’s cap). 
“Our provisions, being sufficient for twenty-eight days, 
made the boats rather deep; and I soon found the cutter 
pulled very heavily, and was obliged to take her in tow. All 
our party slept in the cutter the first night, the whale-boat 
being made fast astern. Towards midnight it blew fresh, and 
as the boats were anchored near the wash of the beach, they 
rolled a good deal; and soon afterwards, feeling the whale- 
boat hanging heavily on her rope, I hauled her up alongside, 
and found she was almost swamped; in a few minutes she 
