WRECK OF THE CHALLENGER. 



Ill 



day received the two boat cannonades, which we 

 had dismounted, and put in charge of some of 

 the ChiUno party, to be dragged over to us by 

 four bullocks : they were now mounted one at 

 each end of our encampment. The crew vari- 

 ously employed, cutting wood and stacking it on 

 the flag-staff hill for signal-fires, and about the 

 barricade round the camp. A small vessel was 

 this day seen, from the hill, in the offing, passing 

 to the southward. The weather, towards night, 

 became dark and threatening, and the wind fresh 

 in gusts from the northward. 



June 14. — Strong winds from the northward, 

 with heavy rain, which continued throughout 

 the day, wetting the tents very much and caus- 

 ing excessive damp. The people employed in 

 endeavouring to make better shelter for them- 

 selves. At 5 p. M. less rain, but moist and 

 foggy : a good deal of surf falling into the bay 

 below us outside the river. In the evening, 

 mustered as usual. The weather cleared towards 

 night, but continued to threaten more rain. 



June 15. — Heavy rain during the night ; wind 

 about N. N. w., 8 A. M. The weather clearing, 

 the Captain wrote a letter, which was forwarded 

 to Concep9ion, through the governor of Arauco, 



