1830. INDIAN FEAST—PINE—ENTER THE STRAIT. 31] 
slaughtered and skinned. Large holes were dug, and the skins 
put into them, to form substitutes for vessels, into which 
barrels of wine were poured, and the Indians commenced their 
feast of horses’ flesh and turbid wine, which threw them rapidly 
into a state of excitement and intoxication, that lasted some 
hours after the wine was all drunk. 
In this neighbourhood, the Araucanian pine (Araucaria 
imbricata) is found, but very few of the trees grow near the 
sea. One beautiful specimen which I saw in a garden was, at 
least, forty feet in height, with branches sweeping the ground. 
The cones of these trees, called pifiones, are brought to the 
town from the mountains where they grow, and are roasted, to 
_ be sold in the streets. 
On the 31st of March, the land about Cape Lucia was seen, 
and at noon it bore E. b. N., distant twelve miles, when the 
wind ceased, and a heavy swell setting us towards the land, 
made our situation an anxious one. A breeze, however, sprung 
up, and by carrying a press of sail, we succeeded in gaining 
an offing before dark. The night was very squally, but next 
morning (1st April) the weather was better, so we stood in, 
and made the Evangelists, which were seen from the mast- 
head, at a distance of twenty-two miles. Between these islands 
and Cape Pillar we found a most turbulent sea; yet no sooner 
had we entered the Strait, than the water became perfectly 
smooth. I intended anchoring in the Harbour of Mercy ; but 
the night proved fine, and the wind was so favourable, that 
we proceeded by the chart, using a patent log, and passing 
within two miles of the headlands. Sail was reduced as 
much as possible, to give us space sufficient to run on during 
the night, steering E. ? S. by compass. Towards midnight 
the weather became cloudy, and occasionally the land was 
concealed from our view. 
Abreast of Cape Tamar, and as far as Cape Providence, 
some sharp squalls raised a sea, rather heavy, considering we 
were in the Strait; but afterwards the water became smooth 
again. Off the latter cape, the patent log indicated a distance 
run equal to that shown by the chart, which proved that we had 
