7 ! ; 0
k f í
288 PAZ a n d l i e b r e HARRIS. A u g u s t
between two ranges of the Cordillera; others said it was in the
plains; hut all appeared to think there was no doubt of the
existence of such a settlement.
In Villarino’s Diary of his Exploration of Anegada Bay,
I find that he was much assisted by horses and mules, which
he carried on board his vessels, and landed as often as he had
occasion to make a journey by land. At the river Negro I
heard that some of these animals became so tame, and accustomed
to landing and embarkation, that they would leap quietly
into or out of the boats, when required.*
On the I9th of August, we anchored near the bar of the
Negro, to meet the Paz and Liebre, take our officers and men
on board, and pay Mr. Harris the money to which he was
entitled, not only by contract, but by the uniform attention,
activity, and thorough kindness, which he and his partner
had shown to their temporary companions; by tlieir knowledge
as pilots, and by the useful information which they had
readily given, to the full extent of their abilities. The complete
success of that enterprize was greatly owing to the conduct of
those two worthy men. Before dark all was settled, our party
was safely on board ; we quitted Harris and Roberts, with
their useful little craft, mutually satisfied ; and made sail for
Blanco Bay, where there was still work to be done; intending
to add to our already numerous soundings, while following the
seaward edges of the hanks.
On the 24th, we moored off the Wells, in Port Belgrano.
Next day. Lieutenant Sulivan went with a party to explore
the furthest extreme of the inlet, while others were occupied, as
usual, in the various duties always necessary on board a ship,
in addition to those of a survey.
Mr. Darwin was at Argentina, and hearing of our arrival,
rode to the Wells. He had met General Rosas on the Colo-
rado, who treated him very kindly; and he was enjoying his
shore-roving without any annoyance, the old major being no
longer afraid of a ‘ naturalista.’
* Viedma and other Spaniards were similarly assisted in their expeditions.
Sept. 1833. p r e c a u t io n s— i i .m .s . s n a k e . 289
On the 7th of September, we finally left Blanco Bay ; * hut
again sounded along the dangerous banks of Anegada Bay,
determined to do our utmost to prevent vessels from getting
ashore there in future, as many have done already, especially
during the blockade of Buenos Ayres, when several prizes,
which had been taken from the Brazilians, were wrecked and
totally lost.
In these surveying trips along-shore we always anchored
when we could, in order to preserve our station and connect
triangles; but, of course, we were often obliged to weigh again
at short notice, during the night; therefore every preparation
was made for any change of wind or weather, and a careful
look-out always kept upon the deep-sea lead (invariably
attended throughout the night), as well as upon the sympiesometer,
the sky, and the water. I mention the deep-sea lead
particularly, because however shallow the water may he, mistakes
are often made with the hand-lead, especially at night,
when a tide or current is running, in consequence of the lead
heing drifted hy the action of the water upon it and the line,
and deceiving even a moderate leads-man; who sometimes
thinks the water mucli deeper than it reaUy is—sometimes the
reverse ; and never can tell exactly, under such circumstances,
how a ship is moving over the ground, or whether she is dragging
her anchors.
Off Starve Island we were obliged to weigh in a hurry, one
night, owing to a gale coming on from the south-east, and
during the 10th and 11th, we carried a press of sail, to get
off the land ; the wind then drew round by the south, and a
succession of baffling weather ensued, which prevented our
doing any thing on the coast, and also hindered our reaching
the Plata until the 16th, on which day we ran iip to Monte
Video, and anchored.
On the 18th we weighed, hearing that H.M.S. Snake had
brought stores and letters for us, and was at Maldonado, but
had hardly lost sight of the town, when the Snake hove in
• Mr. Darwin had previously departed on his road to Buenos Ayres.
V'OL. I I . n