I i
heavy squall, with lightning and thunder, passed over the ship
this afternoon, depressing the sympiesometer more than I had
ever witnessed. Very heavy rain followed.
“ 8th. In the forenoon I was on a height taking angles, when
a large smoke was made by natives on a point at the entrance
of the harbour ; and at my return on board the ship, 1 found
that two canoes had been seen, which appeared to be full of
people. Supposing that they were strangers, I went in a
small boat with two men to see them, and find out if they possessed
any thing obtained from our lost whale-boat, for I
thought it probable she might have been taken along the coast
eastward, to elude our pursuit. I found them in a cove very
near where our carpenters were at work. They had just landed,
and were breaking boughs from the trees. I was surprised to
see rather a large party, about fourteen in number, all of whom
seemed to be men, except two women who were keeping the
canoes. They wanted me to go to them, but I remained at a
little distance, holding up bits of iron and knives, to induce
them to come to me, for on the water we were less unequal to
them. They were getting very hold and threatening in their
manner, and I think would have tried to seize me and my boat,
had not Lieutenant Kempe come into the cove with six men in
the cutter, when their manner altered directly, and they began
to consult together. They were at this time on a rock rising
abruptly from the water, and the canoes, which I wanted to
search, were at the foot of the rock. Under such local disad.
vantages I could not persevere without arms, for they had
stones, slings, and spears, ready in their hands. Lieutenant
Kempe and myself then returned on board for arms and more
men, for I resolved to drive them out of the harbour, as it was
absolutely necessary. Already they, or their countrymen, had
robbed us of a boat, and endangered the lives of several persons
; and had they been allowed to remain near us, the loss of
that part of another boat which was already built would have
followed, besides many things belonging to the carpenters and
armourer, which they were using daily on shore.
“ Another motive for searching the canoes, arose from seeing
so many men without women, for I concluded that some of
the whale-boat thieves were among them, who, having seen our
cutter go to the westward full of people, might suppose we had
not many left on board: one boat’s crew, as they perhaps imagined,
being left on an island, and another'away in search of
them. They had hitherto seen only merchant-vessels on this
coast, and judging of the number of a crew by them, might
think there could not be many persons on board, and that the
vessel would be easy to take. At all events they came prepared
for war, being much painted, wearing white bands on their
heads, carrying their slings and spears, and having left all
their children and dogs, with most of their women, in some
other place.
“ Two boats being manned and armed, I went with Lieut.
Kempe and Mr. Wilson to chase the Fuegians, who were paddling
towards another part of the harbour. Seeing the boats
approaching, they landed and got on the top of a rock, leaving
the canoes underneath with the two women. From their manner
I saw they were disposed to be hostile, and we therefore approached
leisurely. Their canoes being within our reach, I
told the bowman to haul one alongside that we might search
i t ; but no sooner did his boathook touch it, than a shower of
stones of all sizes came upon us, and one man was knocked
down, apparently killed, by the blow of a large stone on the
temple. We returned their volley with our fire-arms, but I
believe without hitting one of them. Stones and balls continued
to be exchanged till the cutter came to our assistance. The
Fuegians then got behind a rock, where we could not see them>
and kept close. Their canoes we took, and finding in them
some bottles* and part of our lost boat’s gear, we destroyed
them. The man of my crew who was knocked down by a stone
was only stunned, and soon recovered, but the blow was very
severe and dangerous. Not choosing to risk any further injury
to our people, and seeing no object to be gained, I would not
land, though our numbers were much superior, and we had fire-
• Mr. Murray had some bottles of beer in his boat—besides those in
which the men’s allowance of spirits was kept.