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A DIARY OF THE 



the propriety of deferring our operations until 

 daylight next morning, immediately returned 

 to the Blonde to communicate to Commodore 

 Mason the arrangement that had been made, 

 fortunately getting to the ship soon after dark, 

 taking with him a second boat's crew of the 

 Challenger's men, to supply the place of those 

 who were to remain on shore with the three 

 boats, which we had hauled up on the banks of 

 the Leubu, and secured for the night. Captain 

 Seymour had also sent an officer with Captain 

 Fitzroy, to give to the Commodore every in- 

 formation he might require as to our condition 

 and readiness for embarkation. 



During the day there arrived on the north 

 bank of the Leubu a guard of thirty infantry 

 from Arauco, under the command of an officer, 

 sent by the authorities there to be at our ser- 

 vice : however, as most happily our period of en- 

 campment was about to be put an end to, they 

 bivouacked on the opposite bank of the river, the 

 officer crossing- and taking up his quarters with 

 us, and receiving our thanks for his exertions in 

 our cause, and a letter from the Consul to the 

 government authorities at Arauco, expressive of 

 our warm acknowledgment for their kind at- 



