426 SCHAPENHAM BAY ORANGE BAY. April 1830. 



Islands. Short runs were essential, because of the chronometers, 

 and this last had been a long one for them, with much motion, 

 therefore it was necessary I should get observations. 



" Towards noon the weather cleared and became very fine, 

 with a light breeze from the northward. We stood across near 

 the north end of the Hermite Islands, carrying soundings right 

 across ; but the view we obtained of the head of Nassau Bay, 

 did not encourage us to hope for either interior waters or a 

 passage, as the mountains seemed to continue in an unbroken 

 chain to the eastward of New Island, and from the mast-head 

 I saw other high mountains far to the eastward. In the after- 

 noon we stood into a fine-looking clear bay, well sheltered, and 

 with regular soundings, from twelve to twenty fathoms over fine 

 sand. I afterwards found that this was Orange Bay, and that 

 the bay at the south point of which we anchored last night was 

 that called, by the Dutch, Schapenham Bay. Being a large, 

 roomy place, with even bottom, we remained at single anchor ; 

 but the glass had been falling so much, and was then so 

 extremely low, that I thought it prudent to prepare for the 

 worst, and struck topmasts. 



" During the latter part of our stay in Christmas Sound, 

 and up to the present time, our sick-list had been considerable, 

 therefore I was not sorry to gain a safe anchorage in a place 

 which appeared likely to afford the means of recruiting our 

 invalids, and restoring them to health. Colds and rheumatisms, 

 owing to bleak winds and much wet, were the chief complaints. 

 This was the only time since the Beagle left Rio de Janeiro 

 that her sick-list had been worthy of notice. 



" Notwithstanding the unusual fall of the barometer and sym- 

 piesometer and their still continuing to sink, this day was as 

 fine, and seemed as likely to continue so, as any day I had ever 

 seen, therefore we took advantage of it, by getting the neces- 

 sary observations for time, latitude, and true bearing; by airing 

 bedding, and cleaning the ship throughout. This appeared to 

 be an excellent place for vessels : the land around is rather 

 low, and looked much more cheerful than the high dismal 

 mountains under which we last anchored. Wood and water 



