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120 BELLACO B IV E B GALLEGOS.
been examining the whole coast between Port Desire and Cape
Virgins, and for the last ten days had been detained in the
Gallegos River by heavy gales of wind. He had sounded
round, and fixed the position of the Bellaco Rock, or St. Estevan’s
Shoal, the existence of winch had been so long doubted.
He had also visited and partially surveyed, the harbours of
Port San Julian and Santa Cruz, besides Coy Bay, and had
made almost a complete survey of the River Gallegos, which
he found to be a large and rapid river, whose entrance forms
a spacious port: instead of being blocked up by a mound
of shingle four or five feet above the level of the sea, and
having so small a stream as to escape the notice of Mr. Weddell
as he walked along the beach.* Cape Fairweather is so remarkable,
and so correctly placed upon the chart, that Mr. Weddell,
in his search for the river, must have very much deceived
himself. I should think he must have mistaken the ravine
described upon my former visit, since that is the only part
which answers his description: it coidd not be Coy Bay, because
that opening, although of minor importance, has a broad
boat communication with the sea.
Captain Stokes described the tide at the anchorage, within
the mouth of the Gallegos, as running at the rate of five knots,
and rising forty-six feet. From Mr. Weddell’s account, he was
on the point of passing by without examining it; but the weather
being fine, he determined to go in his boat and ascertain
the truth of that description. It was soon evident that the
river was large, and, returning to his ship, he lost no time in
anchoring her within the entrance, where she rode out a heavy
gale from S.W.
The Beagle left the Gallegos on the 23d, and reached Port
Famine on the 28th, a very short passage, since she remained
for a night and the greater part of a day at Gregory Bay, to
communicate with the natives. When approaching the First
Narrow, Captain Stokes observed a brig, apparently at anchor,
under Cape Orange, and supposing her either to have found
a good anchorage, or to be in distress, steered towards her
• Weddell’s Voyage.
Before he had reached within two miles of her, the Beao-le
touched the ground, but was extricated from the dano-er most
fortunately, because it was nearly high water; and had she
remained a-ground during the tide, the consequences might
liave been serious-at least, she could not have been got off
without lightening her considerably. The brig proved to be
the Adeona (Mr. Low’s vessel), on her way to meet the Ux-
bndg^e. In attempting to enter the narrow, she grounded
on the shoals and had been left dry. The following tide
again floated her and she was on the point of getting under-
weigh when the Beagle hove in sight. Captain Stokes finding
tlia^ the Adeona had received no damage, proceeded to Gregory
By the Beagle’s arrival we were informed of the death of
Lieutenant Robert H. Sholl, after an illness of ten days His
This excellent young man’s death was sincerely regretted
by all his friends, and by none more than by me. He was
During our voyage from England, he made himself con
spicuonsly useful in saving the cargo of a vessel, which was
stianded in Port Praya ; and on our arrival at Rio de Janeiro
the Commander-m-chief appointed him to a vacant lieutenantcv
on board the Beagle : an appointment which, up to the period
o his lamented death, he fiUed zealously and most creditably *
On the 1st of March we were surprised by the appearance
of three Europeans, walking round Point St. Anna! A boat
* I cannot avoid noticing; here the considerate conduct o f the Co n
man e r-in-chief (S ir George Eyre) with respect to this appo ntment Bv
the tenor of my mstructions the Adventure and Beagle were n t c I
under the Admiral’s orders; and the vacancy, had he wfshed 4
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