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362 ADVENTUUE SOLD — CHANGES. Nov.
allowed to bear twenty additional seamen on the Beagle’s
books, whose pay and provisions would then be provided by
Government, being willing to defray every other expense
myself; but even this was refused. As soon as my mind was
made up, after a most painful struggle, I discharged the
Adventure’s crew, took the officers back to the Beagle, and
sold the vessel.*
Early in November our charts of the eastern coasts of Patagonia
and Tierra del Fuego, as well as those of the Falkland
Islands (the work of the Adventure) were finished, and shipped
off for England ; and on the 10th we sailed, alone, to resume
our more active occupations on the southern coasts. My former
intention was to have filled up all blanks in the charts of the
outer west coast of Patagonia, between the parallels of fifty-
three and forty-eight, and then carried a connected survey along
the coast to the equator ; after which the Galapagos Islands ;
Dangerous Archipelago; Marquesas, Society, Friendly, and
Feejee Islands ; besides New Zealand ; were to have had as
earnest an examination as could be effected by both vessels
during 1836 and part of 1837. That this plan might have
been carried out by the divisions of labour and exertions of
the Beagle and her tender may, I think, be inferred from
what has actually been executed with inferior means and
in much less time. But my reduced arrangements were on
a much smaller scale : I could only look to the most useful
objects that might be effected within the limited time to which
I dared to look forward.
AU on board partook, more or less, of the mortification caused
by parting with our consort, just as she was most wanted, and
most ahle to take an effective part ; and I confess that my own
feeljngs and health were so much altered in consequence—so
deprived of their former elasticity and soundness—that I could
myself no longer bear the thoughts of such a prolonged separation
from ray country, as I had encouraged others to think
• Though her sale was very ill-managed, partly owing to my being
dispirited and careless, she brought 7,5«« dollars, nearly £1,400, and is
now (1838) trading on that coast, in sound condition.
1834. PLANS FOE FUTURE— ME. LOW. 363
lightly of, while I could hold out to them the prospect of seeing
a ” well as doing a great deal among the islands of the Pacific,
besides completing the surveys of Chile and Peru.
I now proposed, first, to go to San Carlos, there set two
of our boats at work among the islands eastward of the large
island, while the Beagle would survey the more exposed coasts,
those to the west and south; then the ship was to examine
the seaward shores of the Chonos archipelago, while another
of her boats was employed among those islands; and, the
Chonos explored, she would return to San Carlos, collect her
scattered parties, and proceed along the coast, northwards,
taking all the ports and islands in her way.
On the 21st we arrived at San Carlos, and were pleased to
find that Mr. Low had returned safe from his difficult undertaking
; and that a person (Mr. Douglas) whom I had engaged
to make an excursion to Calbuco and into the forests of ‘Alerse,
on the Cordillera of the Andes, had also come back with the
required information, and was ready to engage himself to act
as a pilot and interpreter.
When last at San Carlos I proposed to Mr. Low, then serving
as pilot on board the Adventure, to pass the time of our absence
at Valparaiso, in exploring part of the Chonos Archipelago
with a whale-boat belonging to me, and a crew of natives
(Chilotes). Low, ever restless and enterprising, entered eagerly
into my views ; so furnishing him with money, a chart, and a
few instruments, I explained where I wished him to go, and
when he should be again at San Carlos, all further arrangement
being left to him.
Mr. Low hired a crew of six men,* and set out. After he
had quitted the southernmost place at which provisions could
be procured, called Caylin, or ‘ El fin de la Christiandad,’ one
of his menf persuaded some of the others] to eat up the stock
• A Welshman, two Chilotes, a Chilian, and two Sandwich Islanders
who had been left at San Carlos by a whaler. t The Chilian.
t The Chilotes and Sandwich Islanders. Taffy remained faithful : he
and Low, being able-bodied active men, frightened the rest into reluctant
submission.