"Whilst on the South American Station, you are to consider yourself under the command of the Admiral of that Station; to whom we have expressed our desire that he should not interfere with these orders, except under peculiar necessity. "Given under our hands the 16th of May 1826. (Signed) "MELVILLE. "G. COCKBURN. "To Phillip P. King, Esq., Commander of His Majesty's Surveying Vessel Adventure, at Plymouth. "By command of their Lordships. (Signed) "J. W. CROKER." On the 22d of May, 1826, the Adventure and Beagle sailed from Plymouth; and, in their way to Rio de Janeiro, called successively at Madeira, Teneriffe, and St. Jago. Unfavourable weather prevented a boat being sent ashore at the northern part of San Antonio; but observations were made in Terrafal Bay, on the south-west side of the island: and, after crossing the Equator, the Trade-wind hung so much to the southward, that Trinidad could not be approached without a sacrifice of time, which, it was considered, might be prejudicial to more important objects of the Expedition. Both ships anchored at Rio de Janeiro on the {xx} 10th of August, and remained there until the 2d of October, when they sailed to the River Plata. In Maldonado,[3] their anchors were dropped on the 13th of the same month; and, till the 12th of November, each vessel was employed on the north side of the river, between Cape St. Mary and Monte Video. * * * * * {xxi} CONTENTS VOLUME I. ------ CHAPTER I. PAGE Departure from Monte Video--Port Santa Elena--Geological remarks--Cape Fairweather--Non-existence of Chalk--Natural History--Approach to Cape Virgins, and the Strait of Magalhaens (or Magellan) 1 CHAPTER II. Enter the Strait of Magalhaens (or Magellan), and anchor off Cape Possession--First Narrow--Gregory Bay--Patagonian Indians--Second Narrow--Elizabeth Island--Freshwater Bay-- Fuegian Indians--Arrival at Port Famine 12 CHAPTER III. Prepare the Beagle, and a decked boat (the Hope) for surveying the Strait--Beagle sails westward, and the Hope towards the south-east--Sarmiento's Voyage--and description of the colony formed by him at Port Famine--Steamer Duck-- Large trees--Parroquets--Mount Tarn--Barometrical observations--Geological character--Report of the Hope's cruise 26 CHAPTER IV. Deer seen--Hope sails again--Eagle Bay--Gabriel Channel-- 'Williwaws'--Port Waterfall--Natives--Admiralty Sound-- Gabriel Channel--Magdalen Channel--Hope returns to Port Famine--San Antonio--Lomas Bay--Loss of boat--Master and two seamen drowned 48 {xxii} CHAPTER V.