May 1829. 



BLANKET BAGS— VIEW. 



223 



remained to be discovered. At dusk we put into a small creek, 

 and secured the boats, hauling up the whale-boat on the sand. 

 When too late to remove, we found the place of our bivouac 

 so wet and swampy, that nearly two hours were occupied in 

 trying to light a fire. Supper and merry songs were succeeded 

 by heavy rain, which continued throughout that night and 

 the next day without intermission. 



" 10th. Continual hard rain prevented our moving : the whale- 

 boafs men were thoroughly drenched in their tent during the 

 night; but made a better one in the morning. The cutter, having 

 a tarpaulin cover, gave her crew a better lodging; and although 

 a small and loaded boat, only twenty-four feet long, could not 

 be expected to allow much room to a dozen sleepers, during 

 such weather, with the help of our blanket bags,(m) we did 

 very well. 



" 11th. During this night, also, it rained very hard. Early 

 the next morning, however, it cleared a little, and we got 

 under-weigh. When in the fair-way our hopes were much ex^ 

 cited ; for beyond a high island, like a sugar-loaf, appeared 

 an opening without land. I tasted the water repeatedly, fancy- 

 ing it less salt, and that we were approaching a river. 



" Less salt it might have been, from the number of water- 

 falls dashing down the mountains on each side of the 

 channel, which is here about two miles wide, with a current, 

 or rather stream of tide, running at the rate of two knots an 

 hour. 



" At noon, we reached the Sugar Loaf : it cost a struggle 

 to get to the top with the instruments ; but the view repaid 

 me. For three points of the compass towards the north-east, I 

 could see no land, except two islands ; and the farthest extreme 

 to the eastward, appeared to me distant, at least, thirty miles. 

 No mountains or high land could be seen to the north or east ; 

 the country seemed there to change its character, and become 



Cm) Each ofl&cer and man, when detached from the Beagle during- a 

 night, carried a blanket, or large poncho (sewed up, and with a drawing- 

 string, like a large bag), in which they slept, and found much comfort and 

 warmth. — R. F. 



