28 



BEAGLE AND HOPE SAIL. 



Jan. 1827. 



of the sea. It is the highest land that I have seen in Tierra 

 del Fuego : and to us, indeed, it was an object of considerable 

 interest, because its appearance and disappearance were seldom 

 failing weather guides. In our Meteorological Diary, a column 

 was ruled for the insertion of its appearances.* 



This clear state of the atmosphere was followed by a heavy 

 fall of rain, with northerly and easterly winds, which did not, 

 however, last long. 



In the vicinity of our tents erected on the low land, on the 

 S. W. side of the bay, were several ponds of water, perfectly fit 

 for immediate use ; but, perhaps, too much impregnated with 

 vegetable matter to keep good for any length of time. Captain 

 Stokes, therefore, filled his tanks from the river ; but as that 

 water did not keep well, it was probably taken into the boat 

 too near the sea. This, however, was unavoidable, except by 

 risking the boats among a great number of sunken trees in the 

 bed of the river. 



The Beagle sailed on the 15th, to survey the western 

 entrance of the Strait, with orders to return to Port Famine 

 by the end of March. 



Our decked boat, the Hope, being ready, the command of 

 her was given to Mr. Wickham, who was in every way qua- 

 lified for the trust. We were, however, much mortified by 

 finding that she leaked so considerably as to oblige us to 

 unload, and again haul her on shore. When ready for 

 Sea, she sailed under the direction of my assistant-surveyor, 

 Mr. Graves, to examine the St. Sebastian channel and the 

 deep opening to the S.E. of Cape Valentyn. Her crew con- 

 sisted of seven men, besides Mr. Wickham, and Mr. Rowlett, 

 the purser. 



Having despatched the Beagle and the Hope, I was at leisure 

 to carry on the survey of the coast in the neighbourhood of 

 Port Famine, and to make a plan of the port itself. The 



* At a subsequent visit, embracing- a period of 190 days, it was only 

 seen on twenty-five, and during seven days only was it constantly visible. 

 On the remaining eighteen, portions only were seen, and those but for a 

 few hours at a time. 



