1587. SARMIENTO’S COLONY. 38 
when one of the boats struck upon a reef, and was lost, but 
the people were saved. The loss of this boat caused them to 
give up every hope of saving themselves in that way; and 
Viedma, with Suarez, the friar, and twenty soldiers, returned 
in the remaining boat to San Felipe, leaving the rest of the 
party, consisting of thirty men and five women, to support 
themselves through the approaching winter as they could. After 
that season had passed, Viedma sent to collect the wanderers ; 
but fifteen men, and three women only, could be found; the 
rest having died of hunger and disease. The survivors then 
determined upon going to the first establishment at Jesus ; 
on their way to which they passed by the skeletons of the two 
hundred who had been first detached. Travelling onwards, 
they observed three ships entering the strait, which anchored 
at a distance to the southward. . 
During the night, Viedma and his companions kept up 
large fires, supposing that the ships belonged to their own 
nation. Next morning a boat was despatched from them ; 
and three of Viedma’s party obtained permission to go and 
reconnoitre her. Having approached near enough, a signal 
was made; upon which, the people in the boat pulled to- 
wards the beach, and said they were from England, bound 
to Peru, and that if the Spaniards wanted a passage, they had 
better embark. After some hesitation, arising from the fear 
of trusting themselves in the power of heretics, they consented ; 
and one was permitted to get in, but the other two were 
left on the beach. In the boat was the enterprizing Cavendish* 
himself, who, on hearing the particulars of their story, sent 
the other two soldiers to Viedma, offering to take him and the 
residue of his people on board. Cavendish returned to his ship; 
but, without further delay, sailed on to the Isla dos Patos 
(Santa Magdalena Island), where he leisurely salted down six 
casks of penguins; and then proceeded to San F elipe, for wood 
and water ; he remained there four days (during which time he 
destroyed the houses of the Spaniards, and embarked six 
guns); and thence continued his voyage. The person saved 
* Formerly spelled ‘ Candish.’ 
vol. ig D 
