458 NO SAN SEBASTIAN CHANNEL. June 1830. 
I had overshot the proper place; especially as the land con- 
tinued flat, and unbroken, for many miles to the N.W., while 
to the S.E. it seemed hilly and irregular. 
‘** Having ranged along shore several miles, yet still seeing 
from the mast-head a continuation of the same kind of coast- 
line, as far as an eye could trace the surf on the beach, without 
any opening, we wore ship and stood to the northward, satis- 
fied that the St. Sebastian channel did not exist within many 
miles of the position laid down in the chart. 
“In the afternoon the weather became very thick, with 
rain, a fresh wind blowing right on shore, and the glasses 
falling ; so we carried sail to get off the land and out of the 
shoal water, in which there was a heavy ground swell. At 
midnight we had obtained a good offing. 
“ On the 10th, a fresh breeze from the N.E., a low glass, 
and thick weather, with constant rain, would have pre- 
vented my nearing the land again if I had been disposed to do 
so. Though reluctant to leave any part of the coast. of Tierra 
del Fuego unexplored, while I had so effective a vessel, 
and all with me in good health, I was bound to remember 
our distance from the appointed rendezvous ; the state of our 
provisions, of which we had only three weeks left on board ; 
and that I was ordered to be at Rio de Janeiro on the 20th 
of this month.. I therefore decided to hasten to Port Desire, 
for the sake of the chronometer measurements; and from 
thence proceed to Monte Video and Rio de Janeiro. I had 
previously made up my mind to carry the Fuegians, whom we 
had with us, to England ; trusting that the ultimate benefits 
arising from their acquaintance with our habits and language, 
would make up for the temporary separation from their own 
country. But this decision was not contemplated when I first 
took them on board; I then only thought of detaining them 
while we were on their coasts; yet afterwards finding that 
they were happy and in good health, I began to think of the 
various advantages which might result to them and their 
countrymen, as well as to us, by taking them to England, 
educating them there as far as might be practicable,. and then 
