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196 IN D IA N GRAVES— A D E L A ID E . March 1829.
which spread, and soon joined that which Mr. Tarn had made.
Their union probably burned many square leagues of country.
On the 27th, we were still detained by a southerly gale.
Captain Fitz Roy accompanied me in search of Indian graves,
which are described to be on the summits of the hills. We
found the remains of two, one of which had been recently disturbed,
but the other had been opened a considerable time.
No vestiges of bones were left. It is said that the corpse is
extended in an east and west direction, on the top of the
highest pinnacle of the hill, and then covered over with large
stones until secure from beasts of prey. Decomposition takes
place, or the flesh is consumed by small animals or insects,
without the bones being removed, so that complete skeletons
are formed. According to Falkner, the bones are collected at
a certain period, and removed to some general cemetery, where
the skeletons are set up, and tricked out with all the finery
the Indians can coUect. The avidity they evince for beads and
other ornamental trifles is, perhaps, caused by this desire of
adorning the remains of their ancestors.
The next morning we left Sea Bear Bay and proceeded to
San Julian, off which we anchored for a few hours, while Captain
Fitz Roy entered the port to look for the Adelaide, or for
some vestige of Lieutenant Graves's visit. Finding nothing in
the port, nor any tracks upon the shore, we went on towards Cape
Fairweather, and in our way met the Adelaide. After parting
from us during the gale in which all her sails were split, she went
to Port Desire, where she arrived first, and, not seeing us, proceeded
to the two other places of rendezvous, and had been lying
at anchor eight days off Cape Fairweather. Finding we were not
there, she was returning to Port San Julian, when we met her.
The weather being calm, so good an opportunity of supplying
the Adelaide with provisions was not lost, and she was
completed to six months.
On the 1st of April we were otf Cape Virgins, and parted
from the Beagle and Adelaide; Captain FitzRoy having previously
received orders from me to proceed through the Strait of
Magalhaens, and despatch the Adelaide to survey the Magdaien
and Barbara Channels, while he was to survey part of the
south shore of the Strait and the Jerome Channel, and then
proceed, in company with the Adelaide, to Childe.
The Adventure then proceeded along the coast of Tierra
del Fuego towards Staten Land, for the purpose of communicating
with the Chanticleer, or obtaining some intelligence of
her. The appointed rendezvous was New Year’s Harbour, and
the day on which I had promised to be there was past.
It was so foggy that no part of the coast of Tierra del
Fuego could be seen; but as any detention might cause Captain
Foster inconvenience, I did not wait for fair weather, but
went at once to the place appointed.
When crossing Strait le Maire, we were very nearly drifted
through by the tide, which, however, changed just in time to
admit of our keeping on the north side of Staten Land.
With a strong squally breeze we entered New Year’s Harbour,
and seeing nothing of the Chanticleer, should have sailed
without further investigation, had we not observed a cleared
white space on one of the islands, which being near the place
where I had requested Captain Foster to leave a document, I
concluded was intended to attract our attention. The anchor
was therefore dropped in twenty-live fathoms (the island bearing
from N. to N.W. J W.), nearly in tlie spot where Captain
Cook anchored, and a boat was sent to the white mark, near
which a flag-staff was observed, at whose foot was a tin canister,
containing a letter from Captain Foster, which informed
me of his having been obliged, in consequence of a longer
detention here than he had anticipated, to alter his arrange-
ments, and requesting me to meet him at St. Martin’s Cove,
near Cape Horn, about this day. We therefore lost no time in
getting under weigh, but in doing so, broke an anchor. We
passed round Cape St. John, and with a fair wind made rapid
progress to the westward. At noon, the next day, being seventy-
five miles from Cape Horn, bearing W. by S., the high mountains
on the S.F. end of Tierra del Fuego came in sight,
among which the ‘ Sugar Loaf’f^ ) was a conspicuous object.
rgj Campana, or Bell Mountain.—R. F.
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