June. RIVER PLATA—MONTE VIDEO. 461 
her in upon the deck, breaking both iron davits. One of the 
davits of the lee-boat was also unshipped by the jerk, and the 
after-part of the vessel well drenched with water. We secured 
both boats again, but the one to windward was badly stove. 
For a moment, I thought we had indeed found the rocks, and 
the huge black back of a dead whale which just then shewed 
itself very near the vessel, much increased the sensation. I 
imagined that we were in a meeting of tides or currents; where 
old trees, dead whales, &c. are often found, and have frequently 
caused reports of rocks; for the water was not more shallow than 
we had found it during the day, the soundings having varied 
from forty to fifty fathoms; so having obtained the meridional 
altitude we bore up, and steered our course again. 
** On the 26th we entered the Plata, and at one a.m. on the 
27th, Lobos Island was seen, and soon afterwards the high 
land about Pan de Azucar. We continued working to the 
westward, and at daylight were off Whale Point, but the wind 
fell light, and the current being against us, we lost during the 
day what had been gained in the night. At seven p.m. the 
current set so strongly out of the river that we were obliged 
to drop a kedge with a stout hawser, and ride by it, though 
keeping all sail set and going between four and five knots 
through the water. When the hawser bore a strain, the log was 
hove, and the current found to be setting more than five knots. 
This was off Maldonado ; Lobos bearing N.N.E., distant four 
miles. Soon after nine the stream slacked, we tripped the kedge 
and worked up the river, the wind being still westerly, but the 
current having turned in our favour. The U.S. frigate Hud- 
son passed, steering to the eastward :—she was the first sail 
we had seen since leaving San Carlos de Childe. At daylight 
next morning (28th), we were in sight of Flores Lighthouse, 
which was reported to be a vessel under sail. Soon after which 
another vessel was reported as being under all studding sails ; 
this was the Mount itself: so curiously were objects distorted 
by the haze. Soon after noon we anchored off Monte Video, 
and from Captain Talbot, of H.M.S. Algerine, I heard of the 
arrival there, and subsequent departure of the Adventure and 
the Adelaide. 
