116 



OFF SAN BLAS. 



Dec. 



December 3d. Soon after daylight we saw the very low 

 islands, just to the northward of San Bias. I wished to have 

 made Point Rubia, but was set twenty miles northward, during 

 the night, by the flood tide. We stood directly towards the 

 shore, but when eight miles from it found a wide breadth of 

 discoloured water, and the depth shoaled suddenly from ten 

 to three fathoms in a few casts of the lead. Hauling off, we 

 steered southward, with the ebb tide. There was no ripple on 

 the banks, but the water was quite yellow, and at the time we 

 altered our course, in consequence of such shallow water, the 

 nearest land was, at least, eight miles distant. 



While tracing the outer edge of this bank we descried our 

 cock-boats coming out to meet us, and soon afterwards 

 Mr. Wickham came on board. He gave us gratifying news 

 with little drawback ; but had he been half-roasted his own 

 appearance could hardly have been more changed. Notwith- 

 standing the protection of a huge beard, every part of his face 

 was so scorched and blistered by the sun that he could hardly 

 speak, much less join in the irresistible laugh at his own 

 expense. His companions were similarly sun-burned, though 

 not to such a degree. They had been much occupied in 

 sounding extensive banks and harbours, under a hot sun, and 

 while a fresh wind kept them constantly wet with spray. 

 But this inconvenience was trifling ; one of more importance 

 was excessive sea-sickness, in consequence of the short and 

 violent movements of such small craft under sail among the 

 tide-races and eddies so numerous on that coast. 



In other respects all had prospered so well, that I deter- 

 mined to give Mr. Wickham fresh orders,^ enlarging conside- 

 rably his share of surveying operations. He was desired to 

 continue exploring the coast, even as far as Port Desire, until 

 the Beagle'^s return from her visit to Tierra del Fuego and 

 the Falkland Islands. 



As the weather promised well, an anchor was dropped where we 

 were, outside the banks, but the schooners sought shelter in the 

 harbour of San Bias. Next day they came out and anchored 

 * See Appendix. 



