[21] WORK OF STEAMER ALBATROSS. 391 



A canoe containing two men, three women and a child came off' from 

 Dawson Island, and went first to the cutter begging for tobacco and 

 bread; but the crew distrusted their motives, so, after giving them a 

 little tobacco, made a suggestive display of an ax, hatchet, and a double- 

 barreled shot-gun, which caused the Fuegiaus to beat a hasty retreat. 

 The two men landed and watched the process of seal-skinning, appro- 

 priating the carcasses, which they carried to the canoe for food, while 

 one woman increased the supply of their larder by capturing a dozen 

 or more half-grown cormorants from a rookery near by. Eggs which 

 she took from the nests were eaten raw with evident relish. Another 

 woman was bailing the boat, while the third busily employed herself 

 over a fire, which was built on a bed of sand in the bottom of the canoe. 

 She was cooking young cormorants and seal meat, on which they were 

 regaling themselves when we left the rocks. 



We had strong winds and squally weather during the day, and as 

 there was no harbor nearer than Port Famine on the Patagonian side, 

 we steamed across the straits and anchored in a snug little bay for the 

 night, where we were protected from wind and sea. We were fortu- 

 nate in finding a secure harbor, as it came on to rain and blow heavily, 

 getting up a sea that would have made us exceedingly uncomfortable in 

 an open bay in the straits. As it was, we passed the night under our 

 water-proof canopy without interruption or discomfort, except that 

 incident to the cramped quarters of the boat. 



The morning was occupied in shore collecting until 10 a. m., when we 

 started on our return, encountering afresh breeze and heavy swell after 

 leaving Port Famine. A landing was made at the southern extremity 

 of Fresh-water Bay, where the country was covered with a dense forest 

 and many flowers. The fuchsia was seen growiug wild, some of the 

 bushes being 3 inches in diameter, and 15 feet or more in height. Em- 

 barking again after an hour's tramp, we reached the ship at 6 p. m. 

 Several large forest fires were seen sweeping over the country, leaving 

 utter desolation behind, houses, barns, fences, and growing crops being 

 destroyed. 



The climate and soil are well adapted to the growth of many vege- 

 tables, were it not for the heavy winds, which blow the rich black loam 

 away, where the sward is broken for cultivation. Gardens and culti- 

 vated fields are surrounded by high fences, to break the winds, except 

 in rare instances, where surrounding forests or the peculiar conforma- 

 tion of the land serve the same purpose. 



Sandy Point has a population of about 2,000, aud is increasing in 

 size and commercial importance since the occupation of the Patagonian 

 coast for sheep aud cattle grazing, and the colonization of southeastern 

 Terra del Fuego by the Argentines. Its central location makes it a 

 convenient stopping place for steamers passing through the straits, and 

 it is the distributing point of all that region. A recent fire had de- 

 stroyed the public buildings, including the Governor's residence, and we 



