island, at any time while our party was there, was an old Monte
Video (Banda Oriental) ensign, which belonged to the schooner
when I bought her from Mr. Low. This incident, trifling as it
is, may be worth notice, as showing how necessary it is to
be more circumspect and explanatory in every dealing with a
small State, than in similar transactions with the Authorities of
old established governments.
The month of November was passed at Monte Video : laying
down chart-work, computing observations, and writing;
procuring and stowing provisions; painting the vessels outside
and blacking their rigging; and occasionally giving the crews
leave to go ashore. Mr. Darwin returned at the end of the
month; and the first week in December both vessels sailed
from the river: but before I go on with them to Tierra del
Puego and the Falklands, some pages shall be devoted to the
proceedings of our enterprizing and hard-working labourers,
who were employed so zealously during twelve months without
intermission, in the little vessels Paz and Liebre.
y copias inclusas que S. E. el Sr. D. Francisco Llambi, Ministro Seere-
tai-io de Negocios Extrangeros le hizó el honor de dirigirle en 22 del
corriente ; y el infrascripto se halla autorizado para decir que ni el 3 de
Octubre, de 1833, ni otro dia alguno del presente año se ha enarbolado
o desplegado en la Isla de Gorriti la Bandera de la nación Británica. El
3 de Octubre de 1833, y muchos días anteriores, la de este Estado fuh
izada como un señal para B. Francisco Aguilar, avisándole que se iva á
emblar un bote en busca de carne y comestibles. La casa de madera con
vidriera que se dice ser habitada por el comandante, es un observatorio
portátil hecho en Inglaterra, que ahora se halla en la Isla de Ratas de
este Puerto; y ninguno de los edificios de la Isla de Gorriti, ha sido reparado
por persona alguna bajo las órdenes del Comandante Fitz-Roy: lo
que el abajo firmado comunica á S.E. saludándole con su particular consideración
y aprecio.
(Firmado) “ T o m a s S a m u e l H o o d . ”
Paz and Liebre begin work—Chronometers—Pish—Animals—San
Bias—Wrecks—Biver Negro—Del Carmen—Inhabitants—Indians—
Trade—Williams drowned—Port Desire—Gale—Salinas—Lightning
—Bones in Tomb—Trees—Dangers—New Bay—Cattle—Seals—Soil
—River Chupat —Drift Timber—Fertility—Wild Cattle—Valdes
Creek—Imminent danger—Tide Races—Bar of the Negro—Hunting
—Attack of Indians—Villarino—Falkner.
T he Paz and Liehre parted company with the Beagle on
the 18th of October 1832, and commenced their undertaking
by a cursory examination of the entrance to False Bay, Green
Bay, and Brightman Inlet. Lieut. Wickham and Mr. King,
with Roberts and four men, were in the Liebre.* Messrs.
Stokes, Mellersh, and Forsyth, with Harris and five men, were
on board the Paz.-)- While they were northward of the Colorado,
true bearings of the Ventana Mountain, and observed
latitudes, made them independent of their five chronometers;
but it was soon found that the rates of those useful machines
were not injured even by the continual as well as sudden motions
of so small a vessel. They were bedded in sawdust, wool,
and sand,] within a large tub, which was secured to the deck
under the cabin table of the Paz, not far from the centre of
least motion.
In Brightman Inlet great quantities of fish were caught,
by stopping up the mouths of small creeks with a net at high
water, and when the tide ebbed many more were left ashore
than were wanted. On Green Island they found good water hy
digging wells seven or eight feet deep. The island itself was
overrun by deer and cavies: and on the main land the wild
pig of the country (javali) was seen. On the 23d they entered
the river Colorado, but had much trouble in warping to a
safe berth, on account of the water being very shoal at the
entrance which they had chosen. The principal mouth was a
• Nine tons burthen. t Fifteen tons,
i Sawdust alone would have been better.