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I would not disturb them until daylight (8th), when we continued
our search in the direction the natives had indicated;
but after examining several coves without finding any traces
of Fuegians, we hastened back towards the wigwams we had
visited on the previous day. Sailing close along-shore, a lai-ge
smoke suddenly rose up, out of a small cove close by us, where
we immediately landed, and looked all round ; but found only
the foot-prints of two Fuegians, probably the runaways, who
had just succeeded in lighting a fire at the moment we passed
by. Tins shows how quickly they find materials for the purpose,
for when they left us, they had neither iron nor fire-stone
(pyrites), nor any kind of tinder. They had carried off two
tarpaulin coats, which Mr. IMurray had kindly put on to keep
them warm; although, treated as he had so lately been, one
might have thought he would not have been the first to care
for their comfort. I mention these incidents to show what was
our behaviour to these savages, and that no wanton cruelty
was exercised towards them.
“ After looking for these two natives, and for Mr. Murray’s
coats, which at that time he could ill spare, we returned to
our boat, and pushed on towards the wigwams. The moment
the inmates saw us, they ran away, and we gave chase, trying,
in vain, to make them stop. Disappointed in the hope of obtaining
a guide, we determined to prevent these people from escaping
far, and spreading any intelligence likely to impede the
retiu-n of our boat, which we daily expected : we therefore
destroyed two canoes, and part of a third, that the natives were
building, and burned every material which could be useful to
them in making another canoe.
“ (9th). Next day, we went straight across the bay to Cape
Desolation, against a fresh breeze: by pulling in turns, the
boat was kept going fast through the water, and late in the
evenine we reached the cove O from which the thieves had first
started, when they stole the boat; but no traces of their having
been there again, were found. I thought it probable that they
would return to see what had become of our party, and whether
our people were weak enough to be plundered again, or perhaps
attacked.
“ This idea proving wrong, we retraced (10th) much of
our former course, because the direction pointed out by the
Fuegians who ran away from us seemed to lead towards the
place we now steered for, Courtenay Sound, and was a probable
line for the thieves to take. During the night it blew a gale
from the southward, which increased next day (11th), and
became more and more violent until the morning of the 12th,
when it abated.
“ We continued our search, however, sometimes under a
close-reefed sail; sometimes on our oars, and sometimes scudding
with only the mast up. Although the wind was very
violent, too strong for a close reefed sail (with four reefs), the
water was too much confined hy islands to rise into a sea, but
it was blown, as ‘ spoon drift,’ in all directions. This day the
Beagle had her topmasts and lower yards struck, for the gale
was extremely heavy where she lay. The barometer foretold it
very well, falling more than I had previously seen, although the
wind was southerly. In an exposed anchorage, I do not think
any vessel could have rode it out, however good the holding
ground.
“ 12th. This morning the weather was better, and improving
fast. We went over much ground without the smallest success,
and in the afternoon steered to the eastward again, for a third
visit to the boat stealers’ family. As it was late when we approached
the place, I landed half our party, and with the rest
went to reconnoitre. After a long search we discovered the
Indians in a cove, at some distance from that in which they
were on the previous day ; and having ascertained this point,
taken a good view of the ground, and formed our plans, we
returned to our companions, and prepared for surprising the
natives and making them prisoners. My wish was to surround
them unawares, and take as many as possible, to be kept as
hostages for the return of our boat, or else to make them show
us where she was; and, meanwhile, it was an object to prevent
any from escaping to give the alarm.
“ 13th. AVhether the men belonging to the tribe had returned
during our absence, was uncertain, as we could not.
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