28th December.
Party employed as before. The schooner was moved into the stream, as the
drift-wood collected in large quantities, and could not be easily cleared
away from the bows when moored near the bank. The water of the river is
very muddy, and has risen about six feet above the ordinary high-water
mark. The current is about two miles per hour. In winding chronometer
2139, the chain, which was much corroded, broke, and the force of the
recoil of the spring snapped it in so many places that I had to splice
six of the links.
29th December.
As before--preparing equipment, etc.
30th December (Sunday).
31st December.
Preparing tracings of maps, etc., completed the preparations for the
exploration of the interior.