June 1829. wear and tear — ascend la cruz. 



243 



" As an instance, I may mention, that a careful north coun- 

 tryman carried with him, when he left the Beagle, two new 

 pair of shoes (besides those on his feet), and three pair of new 

 stockings : but brought back only a ragged pair of stockings 

 and the remains of one shoe. The others had been fairly worn 

 out, or lost, in scrambling over rocks and ascending mountains- 



" One height ascended by Lieutenant Skyring was so steep, 

 that the men were obliged to pass the instruments from one to 

 another, at a great risk of their own lives ; and when they 

 reached the summit, the wind was so strong, that a heavy 

 theodolite and stand, firmly placed, was blown over; and even 

 a Kater"'s compass could scarcely be used. 



With good clothing and provisions, weather may be almost 

 defied, and work may be done at the less unfavourable times ; 

 but without them, ill-humour and ill-health must inevitably 

 appear in such a climate as this. 



" 14th, Sunday. I had the satisfaction of keeping this day in 

 a proper manner, for the first time since we entered the Strait. 

 So much had depended upon employing every minute of our 

 time while the weather would allow, that there had been little 

 distinction of days. 



" 17th. The morning being fine, wiih not much wind, though 

 a sharp frost, I left the ship with Mr. Murray and four men, 

 and landed in Fortescue Bay, intending to ascend the moun- 

 tain ' De la Cruz,' if the snow and ice did not prevent me. 



" On the beach, close to the water, I suspended the moun- 

 tain barometer, and let it remain half an hour before we began 

 the ascent, which, from the snow lying so deep, was trouble- 

 some; for at one step a hard rock received one's foot, and 

 at the next, perhaps, a deep hole amongst broken trees. Some- 

 times we tumbled head foremost into soft snow, slightly cover- 

 ing rotten mossy boughs and swampy ground ; and at others, 

 slipped between the concealed trunks of trees, which, though 

 much decayed, were hard enough to cause many a bruise. 

 Each movement of our arms or legs shook down a shower of 

 snow from the trees, among which we were forcing our way. 



" At noon we gained the part that is clear of wood, but 



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