470 NATUKAL HISTORY OF 



The morning of next day was very fine, though with a 

 slight W.N.W. breeze blowing down the river. After break- 

 fast we made our preparations for the trip, and at half-past 

 ten A.M. a party, consisting of Captain Mayne, six of the 

 officers, and myself, left the ship in the Captain's galley and 

 steam-cutter, the latter of which took the former in tow. The 

 tide was against us when we started, and continued so till we 

 were well into the river. As usual, cormorants, filled with a 

 spirit of curiosity, came flying round the boats, but were 

 allowed to escape uninjured. Our first adventure was fur- 

 nished by the steam-cutter grounding on a bar at the south 

 side of the entrance, which caused us to make a slight detour, 

 and a little later, when we were off Loyala Point, also on the 

 south bank, the same boat broke down, and anchored to 

 repair damages. The wind was by this time freshening con- 

 siderably, and Captain Mayne therefore decided on moving 

 farther up the river in the galley, and there awaiting the 

 arrival of the cutter. Setting forth, after a hard pull we 

 reached an island off the northern shore, and there anchored 

 in shelter. Landing for a few minutes to scrutinise the 

 neighbourhood, we came across a flock of five flying steamer- 

 ducks, two of which were shot, and one preserved for a speci- 

 men. Before long we were joined by the cutter, which had 

 broken down a second time since we parted company, and 

 being again taken in tow by her, we proceeded onwards. 

 Soon the wind very inconveniently changed round to S.W., 

 so that we were no longer under shelter under the north 

 bank, and the tide, which had turned in our favour, making 

 against it, caused a very unpleasant chopping sea, which wet 

 us pretty thoroughly. After passing an elevation, Gallegos 

 Hill of the chart, and when about four miles below the com- 

 mencement of the long range of cliffs, about fifteen miles 



