1832. 



TIERRA DEL FUEGO. 



119 



In the first volume some notice was taken of the supposed 

 Ariel Rocks, and I will avail myself of this opportunity to say 

 that at various times the Beagle passed over and near their 

 asserted position ; and that she likewise searched for the 

 reported Aigle shoal or rock, without ever finding the slightest 

 indication of either. 



On the 15th, we saw the land off Tierra del Fuego, near 

 Cape San Sebastian, and next day closed the shore about Cape 

 Sunday, ran along it past Cape Penas, and anchored off Santa 

 Inez. A group of Indians was collected near Cape Peiias, 

 who watched our motions attentively. They were too far off 

 for us to make out more than that they were tall men, on foot, 

 nearly naked, and accompanied by several large dogs. To 

 those who had never seen man in his savage state — one of the 

 most painfully interesting sights to his civilized brother — even 

 this distant glimpse of the aborigines was deeply engaging ; 

 but York Minster and Jemmy Button asked me to fire at 

 them, saying that they were " Oens-men — very bad men.*" 



Our Fuegian companions seemed to be much elated at the 

 certainty of being so near their own country ; and the boy was 

 never tired of telling us how excellent his land was — how glad 

 his friends would be to see him — and how well they would treat 

 us in return for our kindness to him. 



We remained but a few hours at anchor under Cape Santa 

 Inez, for so heavy a swell set in, directly towards the shore, 

 caused probably by a northerly gale at a distance, that our 

 situation was dangerous as well as disagreeable. Our only 

 chance of saving the anchor and chain was by weighing imme- 

 diately ; yet if we did so, there would be a risk of drifting 

 ashore : however, we did weigh, and drifted some distance, roll- 

 ing our nettings in ; but a breeze sprung up, freshened rapidly^ 

 and soon carried us out of danger. This happened at three in 

 the morning, so my hopes of observations and angles were frus- 

 trated, and I had no choice but to run for the strait of Le 

 Maire. 



At noon, very high breakers were reported by the mast-head 

 man, off Cape San Diego ; at that time the flood-tide was set- 



