P R E PARAT ION S .
t
may consider Cape Negro to be the boundary of two countries,
as entirely different from each other in geological structure and
appearance, as they are in climate, to which last difference may
be attributed the dissimilarity of their botanical productions.
Hence we returned to Port Famine. In our absence, a boat
from the Beagle had crossed the Strait to Lomas Bay, where
a party of natives had kindled fires of invitation.
The weather, since the sun crossed the equator, had been
unusually fine; and, with the exception of one day’s heavy
rain, the sky was so clear (the wind being moderate from
the N.F.) that all the heights were exposed to our view,
and amongst them Mount Sarmiento stood pre-eminent.
Our preparations for sailing being nearly completed, the
Hope was unrigged and hoisted in, and our temporary settlement
on shore abandoned. It consisted of a marquée and
a large hell tent. In the former was hlr. Harrison (mate),
who had charge of the pai-ty, and of the meteorological
instruments: the bell tent held the crew. Near them were
the observatory, a sawpit, and a cooking place, where a
cheerful fire was always blazing. The carpenter’s shop,
cooper’s bench, and armourer’s forge had each its place, as
well as a rope-walk, close to which our rigging was refitted,
and the sails were repaired. After working-hours the shore
party roamed about the woods with guns, or at low water
picked up shell fish,* by which they usually procured a
fresh meal twice, but always once, a week. Meanwhile the
ship was kept carefully clean and in order. The officers not
immediately employed in active duty made excursions with
their guns ; and although the immediate vicinity of our tents
was pretty well thinned of game, yet a walk of a few miles
was always rewarded by ample sport. When opportunities
offered, some of the men were permitted to amuse themselves
on shore with their guns, for which many had provided themselves
with powder and shot. Every Sunday, after divine
service, which was performed as regularly as possible under
our circumstances, such of the ship’s company as desired per-
* Of these a species of mactra(iVL edulis Nob.) was most abundant.
mission to land obtained it. On one occasion, however, we
had nearly suffered for this indulgence, which was conducive
to the men’s health, and seldom abused : for one of them
having made a fire at a little distance from the tents, the flames
spread, and the exertions of all hands, for three hours, only
just prevented it from communicating to the tents. On another
occasion, two men set out on a shooting excursion, intending
to cross the river Sedger, against doing which there had been
no particular orders, as such a proceeding was scarcely contemplated.
Having reached the bank near its mouth, and searched
for a fordable place unsuccessfully, they launched a log of
wood, and sitting astride, without providing themselves with
a pole or paddle, pushed off from the shore, supposing it would
go across; but, on reaching the middle of the stream, it w-as
soon carried, by the current, out of the river, into the bay. One
man, GiUy, seeing that the log was still floating away with the
ebb tide, plunged in, and just reached the shore south of the
river, in a very exhausted state; the other, Rix, unable to
swim, kept his place, and was carried out to sea on a voyage
that might have been fatal, had he not been seen from the ship,
and saved by a boat.
Before leaving Fort Famine we hauled one of our boats
ashore, and left her (as we thought) securely hidden among
the trees. . 1 1
Being now ready to sail, and only waiting for ivmd, the
officers of both ships, twenty-seven in number, dined together
on shore.
G 9