1^4f A DIARY OF THE 



from the hill in the n. w, direction, and 

 there existed little doubt that it was the schooner 

 Carmen, on her way to find us. Most un- 

 fortunately, the weather becoming foggy and 

 squally, she was soon lost sight of, and our only 

 hope of attracting her attention was by making 

 large fires, which was immediately done, and 

 kept burning all night, but with ill success. A 

 fine condor was shot by one of the midshipmen 

 on the hill. It was one of several which were 

 constantly hovering over our camp. Some of 

 our sick began to exhibit symptoms of fever, and 

 caused us to feel an increasing anxiety to be re- 

 lieved ; for we could not ensure a dry bed for a 

 sick person, and the surgeon was much abridged 

 in the necessary medicines. At sunset, mustered 

 under arms. The night squally, with hard rain. 



June 27. — Continued heavy rain, with thun- 

 der and lightning, causing the greatest possible 

 discomfort to us ; the weather so bad, that the 

 crew could be employed only in their tents, and 

 were suffering much from the wet. The fires 

 had, with great difficulty, been kept burning 

 during the night. The evening still dark, 

 cloudy, and threatening, 



Ju7ie '28 No improvement in the weather, 



