179

175

February 14th At daylight went to work
again: passed any quantity of Alligators, Condors,
Geese, River Pigs in sort all sort of devils;
wasps were terrible, and Dr Martin got stung
very severely, and got into a great funk about
it. Thermometer in my cabin 99°. Several
Valentines knocking about. Had another Pampero.
Anchored at dusk. No Saturday night.

Sunday February 15th Weighed at daylight, and soon
afterwards got on shore. A strong breeze blowing
from the SEward, which soon changed to the
Nward, causing the Thermometer to rise from
88° to 105°. About 2 the Admiral, Secretary,
and Flag landed and proceeded over land
to Assumpcion. In the evening most of the officers
went ashore. No mosquitoes and the gun room
quiet for a w., embraced the opportunity and
turned in very soon.

February 16th At daylight - commenced
discharging coals, water &c, so as to lighten our
draft of water. Several Officers & Commdr went
on shore shooting, Christian being the first to return
with a brace of Partridges, and several parrots.
Pilots went away sounding, it being so shoal
that we could not get any further ahead.
A large increase in the Sick List from Diarrhoea,
probably occasioned by the water. At 9.30
a Foreign Officer came on board. Rather cool