Nov.] PENINSULA OF THREE MOUNTAINS. 



157 



female, would instantly seize the retreating mother by the back, and by 

 the muscular force of his powerful jaws, throw her from four to ten 

 feet on the upland. Here she would lie down in despair, take her 

 suckling to her breast, and " with eyes raining tears," meekly await 

 the inevitable death-blow. Even in the agonies of death, their con- 

 vulsive efforts are solely directed to the protection of their young. 



" Maternal love ! how wonderful the tie ! 



What power can sever — what destroy the cord? 

 'Tis fire divine— 'tis kindled from on high, 

 And emanates from nature's sovereign Lord." 



CHAPTER II. 



Peninsula de Tres Montes, and the adjacent Islands — Natives of the Coast — Bene- 

 ficial Effects of foreign Missionaries, promoting the Interests of Commerce — A 

 new Field for Missionary Labours — Archipelago of Chonos — Island of Chiloe — 

 Natural Productions — Town of St. Carlos — Religion, Character, and Manners 

 of the Inhabitants — Dress of the Females — Employments, Accomplishments, 

 and Amusements — Equestrian Exercises — Mode of Mounting their Horses — 

 Ponchos and Hammocks — The adjacent Country — Directions for Entering the 

 Port. • 



The group of small islands which lie near the north-western ex- 

 tremity of the peninsula of Three Mountains affords many fine harbours 

 (as does also the peninsula itself), which ships of any size may ap- 

 proach with safety by daylight, if the weather be tolerably clear. 

 Wood and water may be had here with very little labour. Sea-otters 

 frequent the shores of these islands, as they do the whole coast from 

 hence to Cape Horn ; and right whales, during the calving season, are 

 found in all the principal bays in great abundance. 



The navigator among these islands need not be apprehensive of any 

 hidden dangers, as every thing shows itself in the daytime ; neither 

 need he have any fears as regards the natives of this coast ; as I have 

 had communications with thousands of them, and can vouch for their 

 being a harmless, inoffensive race. They are inquisitive, tractable, 

 and would readily receive instruction. Could they be blessed with the 

 same advantages from the labours of missionaries which the natives 

 of the Sandwich Islands have enjoyed, they would soon become 

 equally civilized, intelligent, and moral. They are fit subjects for 

 such instruction. 



In this place I beg leave to detain the reader by another short di- 

 gression, to show that the results of missionary labours abroad have 

 been misrepresented, misunderstood, and much underrated. Among 

 the native islanders of the Pacific Ocean the good they have done is in- 

 calculable. I consider most, if not all, of the persons who have visited 

 these islands in the character of religious missionaries, as the bene- 

 factors, not of the natives merely, but of the human race. I shall not 

 allude to what spiritual benefits they may have conferred on those 

 whom they have been instrumental in turning from paganism to Chris- 



