WRECK OF THE CHALLENGER. 45 



with regard to the Indians. He had, with the 

 consent of Captain Seymour, despatched an ex- 

 press to the governor of the frontier town of 

 Arauco, begging him to use his authority in 

 collecting seventy horses and thirty mules, to be 

 driven down to the coast to assist in transporting 

 our provisions and baggage to the Rio Leubu, 

 that being the spot from whence we could alone 

 hope to be relieved. 



Tuesday^ May 26. — Light north-westerly winds 

 and clear weather. Observations were taken, by 

 means of a false horizon, by the master and 

 master-assistant, for a latitude and longitude of 

 the encampment, which gave the latitude 37° 48' 

 48'^ s., and longitude 73° 34' 30^ w. The wreck 

 bore from the camp s.w. by w. We now felt a 

 great satisfaction and security in our barricade. 

 Our sick list numbered about ten, who were unfit 

 for active work. Several of the ten were laid up 

 from over work or rheumatic attacks, the result 

 of their being constantly wet in labouring at the 

 wreck. 



On board the Challenger, at the time of her 

 disaster, was a Spaniard, who had been engaged 

 in the affair of the Falkland Islands, and was 

 one of the Gauchos who had been taken as con- 



