1834.] PORT FAMINE, 233 
and the colony being then for a time deserted, the horse ran wild ; * 
in 1580, only forty-three years afterwards, we hear of them at the 
Strait of Magellan! Mr. Low informs me, that a neighbouring 
tribe of foot-Indians is now changing into horse-Indians: the tribe’ 
at Gregory Bay giving them their worn-out horses, and sending 
in winter a few of their best skilled men to hunt for them. 
June 1st.—We anchored in the fine bay of Port Famine. It 
was now the beginning of winter, and I never saw a more cheer- 
less prospect ; the dusky woods, piebald with snow, could be only 
seen indistinctly through a drizzling hazy atmosphere. We 
were, however, lucky in getting two fine days. On one of these, 
‘Mount Sarmiento, a distant mountain 6800 feet high, presented 
a very noble spectacle. I was frequently surprised, in the 
scenery of Tierra del Fuego, at the little apparent elevation of 
mountains really lofty. I suspect it is owing to a cause which 
would not at first be imagined, namely, that the whole mass, 
from the summit to the water’s edge, is generally in full view. 
I remember having seen a mountain, first from the Beagle 
Channel, where the whole sweep from the summit to the base 
was full in view, and then from Ponsonby Sound across several 
successive ridges; and it was curious to observe in the latter 
case, as each fresh ridge afforded fresh means of judging of the 
distance, how the mountain rose in height. 
Before reaching Port Famine, two men were seen running 
along the shore and hailing the ship. A boat was sent for them. 
They turned out to be two sailors who had run away from a 
sealing-vessel, and had joined the Patagonians. These Indians had 
treated them with their usual disinterested hospitality. They 
had parted company through accident, and were then proceeding 
to Port Famine in hopes of finding some ship. I dare say they 
were worthless vagabonds, but I never saw more miserable look- 
ing ones. They had been living for some days on mussel-shells 
and berries, and their tattered clothes had been burnt by sleep- 
ing so near their fires. They had been exposed night and day, 
without any shelter, to the late incessant gales, with rain, sleet, 
and snow, and yet they were in good health. 
During our stay at Port Famine, the Fuegians twice came and 
plagued us. As there were many instruments, clothes, and men 
* * Rengger, Natur. der Saeugethiere yon Paraguay. S. 334, 
