NATIVE KILLED—RETURN TO SHIP 399 
one say so. The oldest woman of the tribe was so powerful, 
that two of the strongest men of our party could scarcely pull 
her out from under the bank of the stream. The man who was 
shot was one of those whom we had taken in the boat as a guide, 
and the other was among our prisoners. Mr. Murray’s coats 
were found in the wigwams divided into wrappers to throw 
over the shoulders. We embarked the Indians (two men, three 
women, and six children), and returned to the spot where we 
had passed the preceding night. One man who escaped was a 
one-eyed man we had seen before; he was more active than 
any, and soon out of our reach. Two or three others escaped 
with him, whom I did not see distinctly. 
‘¢ That a life should have been lost in the struggle, I lament 
deeply ; but if the Fuegian had not been shot at that moment, 
his next blow might have killed Elsmore, who was almost 
under water, and more than half stunned, for he had scarcely 
sense to struggle away, upon feeling the man’s grasp relax. 
When fairly embarked, and before we asked any questions, the 
natives seemed very anxious to tell us where our boat was ; 
but pointed in a direction quite opposite to that which they 
had previously shown us. We guarded them carefully through 
the night, and next morning (14th) set out upon our return to 
the Beagle, with twenty-two souls in the boat. My object was, 
to put them in security on board, run down the coast with 
the ship to some harbour more to the eastward, and then set 
out again upon another search ; carrying some of my prisoners 
as guides, and leaving the rest on board to ensure the former 
remaining, and not deceiving us. We made tolerable progress, 
though the boat was so over-loaded, and on the 15th reached 
the Beagle with our living cargo. In our way we fell in with 
a family of natives, whose wigwams and canoes we searched ; 
but finding none of our property, we left them not only 
unmolested, but gave them a few things, which in their eyes 
were valuable. 
*< This conduct appeared to surprise our prisoners, who, as 
far as we could make out, received a wholesome lecture, instead 
