The whiskey gave out first, of which the purser reported to the captain that there was but one week's full allowance on board, as some mistake had been made as to quantity before leaving Valparaiso. The captain ordered all hands to be called to muster, and then stated the case with regard to provisions, adding that whatever the privation might be before reaching Valparaiso, he hoped it would be borne patiently, and that each man should receive his money for short rations. " And now for the whiskey, my lads; will you have the full allowance while it lasts, or half allowance that it may hold out the longer?" They gave three cheers and chose the full allowance, and were then piped down.
We now steered for Acapulco, but could not procure any provisions except a few skeleton bullocks. Our boats had become much worm-eaten, and we were obliged to remain here a week in order to re-plank them, aftei* which we sailed for Tumbez river, where the Spaniards first landed under Pizarro. In running in for the land, finding the water grew shallow, we anchored off the mouth of a wide river. The shore was well wooded, and a boat was sent to explore a short distance up. I was one of the party. As soon as we had entered the river, we discovered an Indian canoe about a mile from us. We gave chase, and as we were well armed, felt determined to find out something about it, as it was not definitely laid down on any of our charts.
After a long chase we came up with the Indians. They had run their canoe ashore among some bushes, had all jumped out except one old squaw, who was so frightened that she trembled as though shivering with the cold, and by signs convinced her that we were friendly. We gave her some biscuits, and some meat; the men had all run off and probably would not return while we were there. We ascertained from her that the name of the river was Chippeoivee, and that it ran a great distance into the interior, and that there was a large city far up. On our return we stopped at the entrance on the south side, and found some excellent timber, only it was very hard.
We returned to the ship and reported the result of our cruise. Orders were now given to fit out a party of wood-cutters. I had orders also to cut lumber for ship's use, and timber for a new launch, which I was to build at Valparaiso. A gang of fifty men and officers went on shore next morning, fitted out with axes, saws, muskets, ammunition, and a scanty supply of provisions. We soon made the forest ring with the sound of the " woodman's axe;" it was fine sport for the boys. In the mean time Mr. Pereival had been dispatched to find Tumbez river, and to ascertain if any supplies could be obtained there; we were also admonished that our fresh water was coming short.
Wo finished our wood chopping in four days, and on the morning of the fifth, I took a cruise along the beach some way up the river, and in some places was obliged to wade out very far to clear the bushes, and while thus wading, with the water up to my hips, I felt occasionally something that appeared to be an oyst<T. On reaching down for it, sure enough it was an oyster, nearly nine inches long, and on going a few rods farther, came on to an oyster bed, took off my trowsers, tied up the ends and filled both legs full of as fine oysters as ever were seen. Returned to our encampment, when other parties started off and soon returned richly laden.
Some of the boys had in their rambles, through the woods, discovered an extensive salt pond, which was certainly the whitest and best granulated salt that I had ever seen. The pond was nearly a mile in circumference. Next morning we went on shore to gather up, and while they were doing so, I took a boat with four men, and went up the river, and ran on to a point of land on the other side, of which was an opening. We shoved the boat in round the point and there before us, was a large basin over a mile in diameter, surrounded, or walled in with piles of sea-shells whale's ribs and vertebra. We soon ascertained that the tide was ebbing, and as it began to leave the beach, discovered that it was one vast oyster bed, and in less than two hours the tide had all gone out, and the sight was beyond description.