368 
CRUISE OF H.M.S. CHALLENGER. 
We had now been here some fourteen days, and 
during that time had imparted a little gaiety to the 
colonists, with dances and dinnerparties. 
FALKLAND ISLANDS TO MONTE VIDEO. 
Feb. — Rain, or wind, or both combined, seem 
to constitute the normal state of things in these bleak 
and desolate islands ; although during our stay we 
had two or three fine days, yet all were glad when it 
was decided to proceed on our way north, the weather 
promising to be very squally, and soon after clearing 
Cape Pembroke there was every indication of a rough 
passage before us. Three reefs were taken in top- 
sails, and all made snug for the night, during which 
but little progress was made. The next day for a 
time we had clear blue sky ; still there was a rough 
and heavy sea. Pictures from a sailor’s note-hook 
in these wild and stormy latitudes rarely contain any 
sketches of blue sky or smooth water, but are more 
frequently descriptive (as we now found it) of 
fierce and stormy waves and howling winds ; how- 
ever, the wind being from the south-west, it was in 
our favour, and each day brought us nearer our 
destination. On four occasions we stopped for sound- 
ings and trawlings, getting depths of from 1035 to 
2425 fathoms. On the 11th, quite unexpectedly, at 
a depth of 2040 fathoms, we came across a cold 
current, temperature 33*8° Fahr., and the next day the 
