16 GREGORY BAY—NATIVES. Dec. 1826. 
with the Beagle on account of the weather, and the strength of 
the tide ; this opportunity was therefore taken to supply her 
with water, of which she had only enough left for two days. 
The greater part of this day was spent on shore, examining 
the country and making observations. Large smokes* were 
noticed to the westward. 'The shore was strewed with traces 
of men and horses, and other animals. Foxes and ostriches 
were seen; and bones of guanacoes were lying about the 
ground. 
The country in the vicinity of this anchorage seemed open, 
low, and covered with good pasturage. It extends five or six 
miles, with a gradual ascent, to the base of a range of flat- 
topped land, whose summit is about fifteen hundred feet above 
the level of the sea. Not a tree was seen; a few bushest 
alone interrupted the uniformity of the view. The grass ap- 
peared to have been cropped by horses or guanacoes, and was 
much interspersed with cranberry plants, bearing a ripe and 
juicy, though very insipid fruit. 
Next day the wind was too strong and adverse to permit us 
to proceed. In the early part of the morning an American 
sealing vessel, returning from the Madre de Dios Archipelago 
on her way to the Falkland Islands, anchored near us. Mr. 
Cutler, her master, came on board the Adventure, passed the 
day and night with us, and gave me much useful information 
respecting the nature of the navigation, and anchorages in the 
Strait. He told me there was an Englishman in his vessel who 
was a pilot for the strait, and willing to join the ship. I gladly 
accepted the offer of his services. 
In the evening an Indian was observed on horseback riding 
to and fro upon the beach, but the weather prevented my send- 
ing a boat until the next morning, when Lieutenant Cooke 
went on shore to communicate with him and other Indians who 
appeared, soon after dawn, upon the beach. On landing, he 
was received by them without the least distrust. They were 
eight or ten in number, consisting of an old man and his 
wife, three young men, and the rest children, all mounted on 
* Columns of smoke rising from large fires. + Berberis. ° 
