306 



NEW BAY — RIVEE CHUPAT. 



Feb. 



diately following her example, avoided the danger. They then 

 hauled off, and passed the night at sea. 



Next day (11th), they stood towards the bay again, the 

 wind increasing fast, till it blew a gale from W.S.W., which 

 being against a flood-tide stream, running at the rate of four 

 knots through the entrance, raised a short hollow sea, dan- 

 gerous for small craft. Battening down the hatches securely, 

 and close-reefing, the little vessels worked through gallantly, 

 though frequently obliged to lower their sails in squalls, or as 

 they dived into a sea heavier than usual. The tide soon swept 

 them beyond the narrow part, and then they were compara- 

 tively in safety. 



Part of the west shores of New Bay seemed to be fit for cul- 

 tivation, being covered with a fine dark soil ; and there is 

 abundance of fire-wood. Some small ponds of excellent water 

 were found, over a clayey bed, in which were tracks of cattle. 

 A guanaco shot here was superior to any killed elsewhere, as to 

 condition. Many thousand seals were seen on the rocks, which 

 did not take to the water as soon as disturbed — therefore they 

 could not have been much molested by man. 



On the 24th, Lieutenant Wickham discovered the river 

 Chupat, and after waiting for the tide, anchored half a mile 

 within the entrance. Next day he went a few miles up it in a 

 boat, and found that, though free from drift-timber, it was 

 shoal and narrow, few places being deeper than six feet at low- 

 water, or wider than a hundred yards. The stream ran down 

 two or three knots an hour. Many tracks of cattle were seen, 

 but none of natives. As the. river seemed to be free from sunken 

 trees, and to have but few banks in it, Mr. Wickham decided 

 to move the Liebre as far up as he could, and then make 

 another excursion in his little two-oared skiff. Between 

 pulling^ and sailing, the Liebre was moved twelve miles up 

 in one day, and was moored in the middle of the stream, lest 

 Indians should be near. 



Next morning, Mr. Wickham went in his boat, about eight 



* Both the vessels had oars. 



