178 S. CRUZ, PATAGONIA. [outap. 1x. 
valley varies from five to ten miles in breadth; it is bounded by 
step-formed terraces, which rise in most parts, one above the 
other, to the height of five hundred feet, and have on the oppo- 
site sides a remarkable correspondence. : 
April 19th.— Against so strong a current it was, of course, 
quite impossible to row or sail: consequently the three boats 
were fastened together head and stern, two hands left in each, 
and the rest came on shore to track. As the general arrange- 
ments made by Captain Fitz Roy were very good for facilitating 
the work of all, and as all had a share in it, I will describe the 
system. The party, including every one, was divided into two 
spells, each of which hauled at the tracking line alternately for 
an hour and ahalf. The officers of each boat lived with, ate the 
same food, and slept in the same tent with their crew, so that 
each boat was quite independent of the others. After sunset the 
first level spot where any bushes were growing, was chosen for 
our night’s lodging. Each of the crew took it in turns to be 
cook. Immediately the boat was hauled up, the cook made his 
fire; two others pitched the tent; the coxswain handed the 
things out of the boat; the rest carried thenr up to the tents and 
collected firewood. By this order, in half an hour everything 
was ready for the night. A watch of two men and an officer 
was always kept, whose duty it was to look after the boats, keep 
up the fire, and guard against Indians. Each in the party had 
his one hour every night. 
During this day we tracked but a short distance, for there 
were many islets, covered by thorny bushes, and the channels 
between them were shallow. 
April 20th-—We passed the islands and set to work. Our 
regular day’s march, although it was hard enough, carried us on 
an average only ten miles ina straight line, and perhaps fifteen 
or twenty altogether. Beyond the place where we slept last 
night, the country is completely ¢erra incognita, for it was there 
that Captain Stokes turned back. We saw in the distance a 
great smoke, and found the skeleton of a horse, so we knew that 
Indians were in the neighbourhood. On the next morning (21st) 
tracks of a party of horse, and marks left by the trailing of the 
chuzos, or long spears, were observed on the ground. It was 
generally thought that the Indians had reconnoitred us during 
