March 1830. SKIRMISH WITH NATIVES. 413 
ing so many men without women, for I concluded that some of 
the whale-boat thieves were among them, who, having seen our 
cutter go to the westward full of people, might suppose we had 
not many left on board: one boat’s crew, as they perhaps ima- 
gined, being left on an island, and another away in search of 
them. They had hitherto seen only merchant-vessels on this 
coast, and judging of the number of a crew by them, might 
think there could not be many persons on board, and that the 
vessel would be easy to take. At all events they came prepared 
for war, being much painted, wearing white bands on their 
heads, carrying their slings and spears, and having left all 
their children and dogs, with most of their women, in some 
other place. 
“<'T'wo boats being manned and armed, I went with Lieut. 
Kempe and Mr. Wilson to chase the Fuegians, who were pad- 
dling towards another part of the harbour. Seeing the boats 
approaching, they landed and got on the top of a rock, leaving 
the canoes underneath with the two women. From their manner 
I saw they were disposed to be hostile, and we therefore ap- 
proached leisurely. Their canoes being within our reach, I 
told the bowman to haul one alongside that we might search 
it; but no sooner did his boathook touch it, than a shower of 
stones of all sizes came upon us, and one man was knocked 
down, apparently killed, by the blow of a large stone on the 
temple. We returned their volley with our fire-arms, but I 
believe without hitting one of them. Stones and balls continued 
to be exchanged till the cutter came to our assistance. The 
Fuegians then got behind a rock, where we could not see them, 
and kept close. Their canoes we took, and finding in them 
some bottles* and part of our lost boat’s gear, we destroyed 
them. The man of my crew who was knocked down by astone 
was only stunned, and soon recovered, but the blow was very 
severe and dangerous. Not choosing to risk any further injury 
to our people, and seeing no object to be gained, I would not 
land, though our numbers were much superior, and we had fire- 
* Mr. Murray had some bottles of beer in his boat—besides those in 
which the men’s allowance of spirits was kept. 
