April 1827. SAXE COBOURG SCHOONER. 67 
be. The boat eventually arrived safely at the place of her 
destination, and the crew entered as volunteers on board of 
the Buenos Ayrean squadron, at that time engaged in the 
war with Brazil. 
Again a boat was despatched, directed to go westward 
through the Strait in search of vessels. She had only reached 
as far as Playa Parda, when the Beagle fell in with her 
(March 3d, 1827). While passing through the small channels, 
before entering the Strait, she met several canoes, with Indians, 
who endeavoured to stop her, and shot arrows at the crew ; 
but, happily, without doing any mischief. 
After the last boat’s departure, Mr. Brisbane began to build 
a small vessel, and, while so employed, was visited by a party 
of natives, who conducted themselves very peaceably, and went 
away. Their visit, however, gave the shipwrecked people, 
now much reduced in number,* reason to apprehend the 
return of a larger body, who might try to possess themselves 
of the property which was lying about on the shore ; they 
therefore buried a great deal, and took means to preserve 
the rest by making preparations to repel attack. When 
Captain Stokes appeared with his two boats, the Sealers flew 
to their arms, calling out “ the Indians, the Indians !” but 
in a very few minutes excess of joy succeeded to their sudden 
alarm. 
Captain Stokes found the vessel lying on the rocks, bilged, and 
an utter wreck. The master and crew were extremely anxious 
to get away, he therefore embarked them, with as much of 
the property as could be carried, and succeeded (after another 
night in the boats, and a long pull of eighty miles,) in conveying 
them safely to the Beagle. 
The following is an abstract of Captain Stokes’s journal of 
his cruise to the western entrance of the Strait. 
The Beagle sailed from Port Famine on the 15th of January, 
to explore the Strait westward of Cape Froward, and to fix 
particularly the positions of Cape Pillar, the rock called West- 
* Including the master, there were on board, when cast away, twenty- 
two persons. 
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