1832. 



MOUXT HERMOSO PORT BELGRANO. 



101 



none, I set out with the boats next morning to seek for a pas- 

 sage into Port Belgrano.^ 



Our boats were soon stopped by shoal water, and I found, 

 to my vexation, that the Beagle was anchored at the head of 

 an inlet, between the shore and a large bank extending far 

 towards the south-east, and that before going farther west she 

 must retreat eastward, and look for another passage. This 

 was an unexpected dilemma ; but our prospect was improved 

 by the appearance of a small schooner running towards us, 

 from Port Belgrano, with a Buenos Ayrean (or Argentine) flag 

 flying. 



Very soon she came near enough for our boat to reach her, 

 and an Englishman came on board, who offered to pilot the 

 Beagle to a safe anchorage within the port. This was Mr. 

 Harris, owner of the little schooner in which he sailed, (a resi- 

 dent at Del Carmen, on the river Negro, and trading thence 

 along the coast), with whom we had much satisfactory inter- 

 course during the next twelvemonth. 



By his advice we weighed anchor, stood across the great 

 north bank, in very little more water than we drew, until we 

 got into a channel where there was water enough for any ship, 

 and a soft muddy bottom : there we hauled up west-north- west,-|- 

 by his direction, and with a fresh wind sailed rapidly into the 

 extensive and excellent, though then little known harbour, 

 called Port Belgrano ; and at dusk anchored near the wells 

 under Anchorstock Hill (or Point Johnson). 



To give an idea of the general appearance, or almost disap- 

 pearance, of the very low land around this spacious port, I will 

 mention, that when the Beagle had crossed the north bank, 

 and hauled up in the fair way, Mount Hermoso was nearly 

 beneath the horizon ; some bushes on the flat land southward 



* Often erroneously called Bahia Blanco ; a name originally given to 

 the qiiter bay, in compliment to General Blanco. 



t So constantly did Mr. Harris give this course, on subsequent occa- 

 sions, that it became quite a joke; but it is nevertheless a strong cor- 

 roboration of what 1 stated respecting the general direction of the inlets, 

 and ridges, or ranges of hills. 



