May 1829. BLANKET BAGS—VIEW. 293, 
remained to be discovered. At dusk we put into a small creek, 
and secured the boats, hauling up the whale-boat on the sand. 
When too late to remove, we found the place of our bivouac 
so wet and swampy, that nearly two hours were occupied in 
trying to light a fire. Supper and merry songs were succeeded 
by heavy rain, which continued throughout that night and 
the next day without intermission. 
10th. Continual hard rain prevented our moving: the whale- 
boat’s men were thoroughly drenched in their tent during the 
night; but made a better one in the morning. The cutter, having 
a tarpaulin cover, gave her crew a better lodging; and although 
a small and loaded boat, only twenty-four feet long, could not 
be expected to allow much room to a dozen sleepers, during 
such weather, with the help of our blanket bags,(m) we did 
very well. 
‘11th. During this night, also, it rained very hard. Early 
the next morning, however, it cleared a little, and we got 
under-weigh. When in the fair-way our hopes were much ex- 
cited ; for beyond a high island, like a sugar-loaf, appeared 
an opening without land. I tasted the water repeatedly, fancy- 
ing it less salt, and that we were approaching a river. 
“* Less salt it might have been, from the number of water- 
falls dashing down the mountains on each side of the 
channel, which is here about two miles wide, with a current, 
or rather stream of tide, running at the rate of two knots an 
hour. 
** At noon, we reached the Sugar Loaf: it cost a struggle 
to get to the top with the instruments; but the view repaid 
me. For three points of the compass towards the north-east, I 
could see no land, except two islands ; and the farthest extreme 
to the eastward, appeared to me distant, at least, thirty miles. 
No mountains or high land could be seen to the north or east ; 
the country seemed there to change its character, and become 
(m) Each officer and man, when detached from the Beagle during a 
night, carried a blanket, or large poncho (sewed up, and with a drawing- 
string, like a large bag), in which they slept, and found much comfort and 
warmth.—R. F. 
