April 1830. BAROMETER—EXCURSIONS. 427 
were plentiful, and easily obtained. Wild-fowl were numerous, 
and our people brought on board a serviceable supply, enough 
for all the sick, and for most of those who were in health. 
3d and 4th. Still very fine weather, although the baro- 
meter and sympiesometer were lower than I had yet seen 
them in this country. Our Fuegians were becoming very 
cheerful, and apparently contented. We gave them as much 
fresh provision (birds and fish) as we could obtain with guns 
and lines, and hitherto they had fared very well. All that 
was shot went to one stock, from which it was divided in 
rotation to the messes, the sick being first provided for, and 
then the Fuegians. 
*“* 5th and 6th. Two more fine days, with a very low glass, 
shook my faith in the certainty of the barometer and sym- 
piesometer.* During those days, the wind had been light 
from N.N.W., and twice before I had known these instruments 
to be similarly affected during exactly similar wind and wea- 
ther: once at Port Desire, on the coast of Patagonia; and 
once at Port Gallant, while I was in the Otway Water. 
«<The master went towards the head of Nassau Bay, and Mr. 
Stokes set out in the opposite direction. Mr. Murray had one 
of our best chronometers, kept in a box, well packed in wool, 
but exposed to the temperature of the air. Before going away 
and after returning, it was kept and rated in the same box on 
deck, because the variations of temperature in the open air of 
this climate are small; much less than a chronometer would 
experience if alternating between a warm cabin and a cold 
boat. I was sadly grieved at finding that some Fuegians who 
arrived were not of the same tribe as our captives, nor even 
spoke the same language. On the contrary, much enmity 
appeared to exist between them; though their colour, fea- 
tures, and habits were similar. At first, ‘ York’ and ‘ Boat’ 
would not go near them; but afterwards took delight in 
trying to cheat them out of the things they offered to bar- 
ter; and mocked their way of speaking and laughing ; point- 
* The mercury in the barometer fell to 28,94, and the oil in the sym- 
piesometer to 28,52 ; the thermometer ranging from 40° to 48° (Faht.) 
