WRECK OF THE CHALLENGER. 



95 



was given them ; on which they took the hint, 

 and retired to the hills. 



June 6. — Moderate breeze from s. w., with 

 thick ioggy weather : the crew busily employed 

 in collecting every useful article to pack for our 

 newly destined camp ; a party in the wreck 

 clearing every part that could be got at of all 

 worth the difficulty of transporting to the Leubu. 

 The governor of Arauco earnestly requested that 

 we would destroy any powder which we had 

 saved over the full supply we moved with, lest it 

 should fall into the hands of the Indians, when 

 it would be turned to the serious disadvantage 

 of the Chilian arms ; he not having it in his 

 power to take safe custody of it. Several cases 

 of large- grained powder were consequently blown 

 up, to the astonishment of the wonder-stricken 

 Indians. A detachment of sixteen loaded mules 

 again started this day for the Leubu. Sad com- 

 plaints began to be made of the mice, and bitter 

 denunciations against them ; but their numbers 

 overpowered every effort on our part to get rid 

 of them. It was now not uncommon, in the 

 morning, on putting on what had been a jacket, 

 or other whole garment, at night, to discover the 

 disappearance of a large portion of it, — the 



