CHAPTER XIV. 



I*a2 and Liebre begin work — Chronometers — Fish — Animals — San 

 Bias — Wrecks — River Negro — Del Carmen — Inhabitants — Indians — 

 Trade — Williams drowned — Port Desire — Gale — Salinas — Lightning 

 —Bones in Tomb — Trees — Dangers — New Bay — Cattle — Seals — Soil 

 —River Chupat— -Drift Timber— Fertility— Wild Cattle— V aides 

 Creek — Imminent danger — Tide Races — Bar of the Negro — Hunting 

 — Attack of Indians — Villarino — Falkner. 



The Paz and Liebre parted company with the Beagle on 

 the 18th of October 1832, and commenced their undertaking 

 by a cursory examination of the entrance to False Bay, Green 

 Bay, and Brightman Inlet. Lieut. Wickham and Mr. King, 

 with Roberts and four men, were in the Liebre.* Messrs. 

 Stokes, Mellersh, and Forsyth, with Harris and five men, were 

 on board the Paz.-)* While they were northward of the Colo- 

 rado, true bearings of the Ventana Mountain, and observed 

 latitudes, made them independent of their five chronometers ; 

 but it was soon found that the rates of those useful machines 

 were not injured even by the continual as well as sudden mo- 

 tions of so small a vessel. They v>^ere bedded in sawdust, wool, 

 and sand, J within a large tub, which was secured to tlie deck 

 under the cabin table of the Paz, not far from the centre of 

 least motion. 



In Brightman Inlet great quantities of fish were caught, 

 by stopping up the mouths of small creeks with a net at high 

 water, and when the tide ebbed many more were, left ashore 

 than were wanted. On Green Island they found good water by 

 digging wells seven or eight feet deep. The island itself was 

 overrun by deer and cavies : and on the main land the wild 

 pig of the country ( javali) was seen. On the 23d they entered 

 the river Colorado, but had much trouble in warping to a 

 safe berth, on account of the water being very shoal at the 

 entrance which they had chosen. The principal mouth was a 



* Nine tons burthen. f Fifteen tons. 



X Sawdust alone would have been better. 



