394 DESOLATE BAY—FUEGIANS. 
bay in which were many islands, large and small; and westward 
was a more connected mass of large islands reaching, apparently, 
to the foot of that grand chain of snowy mountains, which runs 
eastward from the Barbara Channel, and over the midst of 
which Sarmiento proudly towers. I resolved to trace the con- 
fines of the bay, from the west, towards the north and east, 
thinking it probable that the thieves would hasten to some 
secure cove, at a distance, rather than remain upon an outlying 
island, whence their retreat might be cut off. In the evening 
we met a canoe containing two Fuegians, a man and a woman, 
who made us understand, by signs, that several canoes were 
gone to the northward. This raised our hopes, and we pushed 
on. The woman, just mentioned, was the best looking I have 
seen among the Fuegians, and really well-featured : her voice 
was pleasing, and her manner neither so suspicious nor timid 
as that of the rest. Though young she was uncommonly fat, and 
did justice to a diet of limpets and muscles. Both she and 
her husband were perfectly naked. Having searched the coves 
for some distance farther, night came on, and we landed in a 
sheltered spot. 
“The next day (6th), we found some rather doubtful traces 
of the thieves. Towards night it blew a strong gale, with hail- 
squalls and rain. 
“ On the 7th, at a place more than thirty miles E.N.E. 
of Cape Desolation, we fell in with a native family, and on 
searching their two canoes found our boat’s lead line. ‘This 
was a prize indeed; and we immediately took the man who 
had it into our boat, making him comprehend that he must 
show us where the people were, from whom he got it. He 
understood our meaning well enough, and following his guidance 
we reached a cove that afternoon, in which were two canoes full 
of women and children ; but only one old man, and a lad of 
seventeen or eighteen. As usual with the Fuegians, upon 
perceiving us they all ran away into the bushes, carrying 
off as much of their property as possible—returning again 
naked, and huddling together in a corner. After a minute 
search, some of the boat’s gear was found, part of her sail, and 
