^'^0 MURRAY COVE PORT GALLANT. April 1829. 



which affords good shelter from westerly winds, and is very 

 easy of access, being a small roadstead rather than a harbour. 



" 27th. We set out early with the boats, but the weather 

 was too bad to do much ; however, something was done, and 

 at dusk we went ashore on a small island in the Sound. It 

 rained very hard all the afternoon and during part of the night. 

 AVe sheltered ourselves as well as we could with the boat's 

 sails and tarpaulins ; but during the night the wind shifted, 

 and blew so hard, that it threw down our slight shelter, and 

 made me very anxious about the ship ; for I was doubtful of 

 the security of the anchorage where she lay. 



" 28th. This morning was very cold, it rained hard and 

 blew strong ; but when it cleared away for a short time, we 

 set to work again, to explore what appeared to be a channel. 



" After a three hours' pull against wind, snow, and hail, 

 my channel proved to be only one of the numerous inlets which 

 encroach upon the Fuegian territory; and the boats returned 

 to the Beagle, with the help of strong squalls from the S.W. 

 I was not a little glad to see the ship in the place where I had 

 left her. During the night another anchor had been let go ; 

 but she had not moved from her position. This anchorage is so 

 easy of access, that I hope it will be of use to vessels passing 

 through the Strait. There is room for one large sized ship to 

 lie conveniently, or for two or three small craft. 



" The weather has not yet been so cold as I expected it 

 w^ould be : snow lies on the deck a short time, but the thermo- 

 meter has not been lower than 31° (Fahrenheit). 



"29th. A rainy, blowing morning : Mr. Stokes and I set - 

 out in the boats ; but it rained so much, that we could only 

 make a fire to dry our clothes, and remove the numbness, caused 

 by sitting a long time in the wet. 



" On the 3d of May, we anchored in Port Gallant : though 

 perfectly secure, this is a dismal harbour in winter, being so 

 surrounded by high mountains, that the sun is seldom visible. 

 Until the 7th, in addition to our usual daily duties, we were 

 occupied in preparing for an excursion, in boats, to the Jerome 

 Channel. Salt provisions were entirely withheld from the crew 



