1832. Px\Z LIEBRE REFIT. Ill 



The formal agreement with Mr. Harris being duly signed, 

 I despatched him forthwith to the river Negro, in search of 

 his vessels, and sent the purser with him to ascertain the state 

 of things at Del Carmen, especially with a view to future 

 supplies. 



They went in a small coasting vessel, belonging to another 

 Englishman (H. Elsegood), settled at Del Carmen; for the 

 schooner, from which Mr. Harris came to us near to Mount 

 Hermoso, did not delay, but continued her course towards 

 the river Negro. 



Our boats were constantly employed while these arrange- 

 ments were pending, and directly they were finished, the Bea- 

 gle got under sail to examine the entrance and outer parts of 

 the port. For several days she was thus engaged, anchoring 

 always at night. In a week the schooners arrived, bringing 

 our purser and their owners. The Paz, of about fifteen tons 

 burthen, was as ugly and ill-built a craft as I evfer saw, covered 

 with dirt, and soaked with rancid oil. The Liebre, of 

 about nine tons burthen, was a frigate^s barge,* raised and 

 decked — oily like the other ; but as both had done their owners 

 good service in procuring seal and sea-elephant oil, I saw no 

 reason to doubt our being able to make them answer our pur- 

 pose. Yet the prospect for those who had so handsomely 

 volunteered to go in any thing, with or without a deck, could 

 not be otherwise than extremely unpleasant ; for they did not 

 then foresee how soon a thorough cleansing and complete 

 outfit would be given to both vessels, and how different they 

 would afterwards appear. 



Lieutenant Wickham, with the sailmaker, armourer, cooper, 

 and a small party, were immediately established under tents, 

 on the banks of a small creek (Arroyo Pareja). The little 

 schooners were hauled ashore for examination and a thorough 

 refit ; and then, having left them the stores and other neces- 

 saries which they would require, I went with the Beagle 

 towards Blanco Bay ; completed the examination of a 

 narrow though deep channel, by which any ship may 

 * She had been the barge of the Brazilian frigate Piranga. 



