1769. ROUND THE WORLD. 59 



CHAP. V. 



THE PASSAGE THROUGH THE STREIGHT OF LE MAIRE, AND A 

 FURTHER DESCRIPTION OF THE INHABITANTS OF TERRA DEL 

 FUEGO, AND ITS PRODUCTIONS. 



On the ISth and 19th, we were delayed in getting 

 on board our wood and water by a swell: but on the 

 20th, the weather being more moderate, we again 

 sent the boat on shore, and Mr. Banks and Dr. So- 

 lander went in it. They landed in the bottom of 

 the bay ; and w^liile my people were employed in 

 cutting brooms, they pursued their great object, tlie 

 improvement of natural knowledge, with success, col- 

 lecting many shells and plants which hitherto have 

 been altogether unknown : they came on board to 

 dinner, and afterwards went again on shore to visit 

 an Indian town, which some of the people had re- 

 ported to lie about two miles up the country. They 

 found the distance not more than by the account, 

 and they approached it by w^hat appeared to be the 

 common road, yet they were above an hour in getting 

 thither, for they were frequently up to their knees 

 in mud. AVhen they got within a small distance, two 

 of the people came out to meet them, with such 

 state as they could assume : when they joined them, 

 they began to hollow as they had done on board the 

 ship, without addressing themselves either to the 

 strangers or their companions ; and having continued 

 this strange vociferation some time, they conducted 

 them to the town. It was situated on a dry knoll, 

 or small hill, covered with wood, none of which 

 seemed to have been cleared away, and consisted of 

 about twelve or fourteen hovels, of the most rude 

 and inartificial structure that can be imagined. 

 They were nothing more than a few poles set up so 

 as to incline towards each other, and meet at the top. 



