48 



ARRIVAL AT THE FALKLAND ISLANDS. [1822. 



they inhabit — one thing is certain, that about two hundred of these 

 copper-coloured gentlemen kept three hungry Christians fasting in a 

 bunch of underbrush for the best part of a Sabbath-day. As they 

 evinced no intention of changing their ground, we were compelled to 

 hold ours, as the least movement on our part would at once have ex- 

 posed our persons to view ; and that might possibly have been attended 

 with a hazard which I was not then prepared to incur. We therefore 

 thought proper to remain in our place of concealment until we could 

 leave it under the cover of darkness. This we finally effected, and 

 arrived safe on board the schooner at about three o'clock in the 

 morning. 



October 14th. — Having enjoyed the refreshment of food and sleep 

 after our adventure of yesterday, we prepared to leave Santa Cruz ; 

 and at eleven o'clock A. M. were again under way and steering from 

 the mouth of the river, being now within forty-five leagues of Cape 

 Virgin, the northern point of the Straits of Magellan, where our sur- 

 vey was to terminate, until we had paid a visit to the Falkland 

 Islands, and after that to the Antarctic Seas. 



At about sixty miles south from Santa Cruz is Point Varella, whence 

 the shore runs S. by E. to the river Gallegos. This part of the coast 

 is one continued chain of rocks and reefs, which stretch partly across 

 the entrance of the river just named. In steering along here in the 

 night it is necessary to give the shore a good berth. The entrance of 

 the river Gallegos is in lat. 54° 41' S., long. 69° 2' W. Variation 

 per azimuth 23° 15' easterly. From hence the coast tends to E.S.E. 

 about fifty miles, to Cape Virgin, the northern boundary of the straits, 

 as before mentioned ; and so called by Magellan because he discovered 

 it on the feast of St. Ursula. 



October 16th. — Having thus thoroughly examined the coast of Pata- 

 gonia from Cape Corrientes to Cape Virgin, keeping the boats con- 

 stantly in-shore, while the schooner followed them at from two to three 

 miles' distance, we prepared, in conformity to my instructions, to visit 

 the Falkland Islands. Accordingly, at eleven o'clock A. M. we took 

 our departure from Cape Virgin, and steered an easterly course, with 

 the wind W. by N., and fair weather ; and on Friday, the 18th, at 

 noon, we arrived in safety at New Island, one of the Falkland group, 

 and cast anchor on its eastern side, in Shallop Cove, in three fathoms 

 of water. Here we found the second mate of the schooner Henry, 

 of New- York, with two of her crew, gathering eggs. The reader 

 will recollect that this vessel was commanded by my old friend Cap- 

 tain Johnson, and left New- York about the time that we did. Captain 

 J. was now on a six weeks' cruise in search of the Aurora Islands, 

 but without success. 



