and vifited the eaftern fide occafionally, but not often 1 fo
that i f they have been rarely feen by the veffels which have
touched at the coaft o f Patagonia for the laft hundred years,
the reafon probably is, that being, like other Indian nations,
defirous to conceal themfelves from ftrangers, they Retired
to the mountains. It is Indeed to be regretted, that
no Ikeleton o f thefe people has been brought into Europe ;
and it may at firft feem ftrarige, that no fuch evidence of
their uncommon ftature Ihould have been produced, as it
is known that feveral o f them who had been made prifoners
by the Commanders o f European veffels, died on board foon
after they came into a hot climate; but the wonder will
ceafe, when it is confidered that all mariners have a fuper-
ftitious opinion that the compafs will not traverfe i f there is
a dead body on board the veffel.” Upon the whole, it may
reafonably be prefumed, that the concurrent teftimony o f late
navigators, particularly Commodore Byron, Captain Wallis,
and Captain Carteret, Gentlemen of unqueftionable veracity,
who are ftill living, and who not only faw and converfed with
thefe people, but meafured them, will put an end to all the
doubts that have been hitherto entertained o f their exift-
ence.
Having thus brought together the whole of the evidence
for and again!!' a faft which has long been the objecft both
of popular and philofophical curiofity, I lhall not anticipate
any opinion that the Reader may form concerning future
navigations in the track which has been defcribed by any
o f the veffels whofe voyages are here related, except that although
it is the opinion o f Commodore Byron, who fpent
feven weeks and two days in palling through the Streight of
Magellan, that it may be paffed in three weeks at the proper
feafiaft; yet the paffage colt Captain Wallis near four
months,
months,' though he performed it precifely at the time recommended
by the Commodore, having reached the eaftern
entrance about the middle of December.
I cannot however difmifs my Readers to the following
narratives, without expreffing the regret with which I have
recorded the deffiruction o f poor naked favages, by our firearms,
in the courfe o f thefe expeditions, when they endeavoured
to repyefs the invaders of their country; a regret
which I am confident my Readers will participate with me :
this however appears' to be an evil which, i f difcoveries o f
new countries are attempted, cannot be avoided: refiftance.
will always be made, and i f ‘thole who refill are not overpowered,
the attempt mull be relinquiflied. It may perhaps,
be faid that the expence of life upon thefe occafions is more
than is neceffary to convince the natives that further conteff
is hopelefs, and perhaps this may fometimes have been true:
but it muff be confidered, that if fuch expeditions are undertaken,
the execution of them mull be intruded to perfons-
not exempt from human frailty ; to men who are liable to-
provocation by hidden injury, to unpremeditated violence
by fudden danger, to error by the defedt o f judgment or the
ftrength o f paffion, and always difpofed to transfer laws by
which they are bound themfelves, to others who are not fub-
je ft to their obligation ; fo that every excefs thus produced
is alfo an inevitable evil..
I f it fhould be faid, that fuppofing thefe mifchiefs to be
inevitable in attempting difcoveries, difcoveries ought not to
be attempted; it mull be confidered, that- upon , the only
principles on which this opinion can be fupported« the rilk
o f life, for advantages o f the.fame kind, with thofe propofed
in difcovering new countries, is in every other inftance unlawful.
If it is not lawful to. put the life o f an.Indian in
2 hazard«.