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siitisfied with our promise of sending him ashore on the
morrow.
After we anchored, the wind increased to a gale, in whicli
the ship pitched so yiolently as to injure our windlass. Its construction
was bad originally, and the violent jerks received in
Possession Bay had done it much damage. While veering
cable, the support at one end gave way, and the axle of the
barrel was forced out of the socket, by which some of the pawls
were injured. Fortunately, dangerous consequences were prevented,
:md a temporary repair was S(X)H applied.
The Beagle, by her better sailing, had reached a more
advanced situation, close to the N.F. end of Flizabeth Island,
but had anchored disadvant&geously in deep water, and in
the strength of the tide. Next morning we made an attempt
to pass round Flizabeth Island, but found the breeze so
strong that we were forced to return, and were fortunate
enough to find good anchorage northward of the island, out
of the tide.
The Patagonians, during the dav, showed much uneasiness
at being kept on hoard so much longer than they expected;
but as they seemed to undej-stand the cause of their detention,
and as tlieir sickness- ceased when we reached smooth water,
they gradually recovered their good-humour, and became
very connnunicative. As well as we could understand their
pronunciation, their names were ‘ Coigh,’ ‘ Coichi,’ and ‘Aighen.’
The country behind Cape Negro they called ‘ Chilpeyo the
laud of Tierra del Fuego, ‘OscherriFlizabeth Island, ‘ Tur-
retterr the island of Santa Magdalena, ‘ Shree-ket-tup and
Cape Negro, ‘ Oerkreckur.’ The Indians of Tierra del Fuego,
with whom they are not on friendly^ terms, are designated by'
them ‘ SapaUlos.’ This name was applied to them in a contemptuous
tone.
Aighen’s features were remarkably different from those of
his companions. Instead of a flat nose, his was aquiline and
prominent, and his countenance was full of expression. He
proved to be good-tempered, and easily pleased ; and whenever
a shade of melancholy l>egan to appear, our assurance of
landing him on the morrow restored his good-humour, which
was shown by singing and laughing.
The dimensions of Coichi’s head were as follows :—
F rom the top of the fore p a rt o f the h ead to the eyes 4 inches.
Do ..................... do to the tip o f the nose 6
Do ..................... do to the m o u th 7
Do ......... do to the c h in ...................9
AVidth of the head across the temples ..........................................71
Breadth of the sh o u ld e r s ................................................................... I8 f
The head was long and flat, at the top; the forehead broad
and liigh, but covered with hair to within an inch and a half
of the eyebrow, which had scarcely any hair. The ej'es were
small, the nose was short, the mouth wide, and the lips thick.
Neck short, and shoulders very broad. The arms were short,
and wanting in muscle, as were also the thighs and legs.
The body was long and large, and the breast broad and
expanded. His height was nearly six fert.
The next day we rounded Flizabeth Island, and reached
Cape Negro, where we landed the Indians, after making them
several useful presents, and sending some trifles by Aiglien
to IVIai'ia, who, with her tribe, had lighted laige fires about
the country behind Peckett’s Harbour, to invite us to land.
Our passengers frequently pointed to them, telling us tliat they
were made by Maria, who had brought plenty of guanaco
meat for us.
Our anxiety to reach Port Famine prevented delay, and, as
soon as the boat returned, we proceeded along the coast
towards Freshwater Bay, which we reached early enough in
the afternoon to admit of a short visit to the shore.
From Cape Negro the country assumed a very different
character. Instead of a low coast and open treeless shore, we
saw steep hills, covered with lofty trees, and thick underwood.
The distant mountains of Tierra del Fuego, covered with
snow, were visible to the southward, some at a distance of sixty
or seventy miles.
We had now passed all the difficulties of the entrance, and
had reached a quiet and secure anchorage.
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