March. 



SAN SEBASTIAN BAY WOOLLYA. 



323 



deceived as to no channel existing,* so well defined and dis- 

 tinct did a wide opening appear. A few more minutes, how- 

 ever, undeceived me : I discerned low flat land stretching 

 along the western horizon : and soon afterwards we anchored in 

 the bay. The following week was occupied in surveying the 

 north-eastern shore of Tierra del Fuego, which, except San 

 Sebastian Bay, does not contain a port. San Vicente Cove 

 is not worth notice as a harbour. 



On the 25th, we anchored at the Hermite Islands, on the 

 north-east side of Wollaston Island. Thence, on the 27th, 

 we crossed Nassau Bay to Goree Road, and the following day 

 entered the Beagle Channel. 



The 1st of March passed in replenishing our wood and 

 water at a cove, where we had an opportunity of making 

 acquaintance with some Yapoo Tekeenica natives, who seemed 

 not to have met white men before. 



Till the 5th the Beagle was actively occupied, by day, in 

 working to windward (westward) through the channel, and 

 then she anchored at Woolly a. But few natives were seen as 

 we sailed along : probably they were alarmed at the ship, and 

 did not show themselves. The wigwams in which I had left 

 York, Jemmy, and Fuegia, were found empty, though unin- 

 jured :x the garden had been trampled over, but some turnips 

 and potatoes of moderate size were pulled up by us, and eaten 

 at my table, a proof that they may be grown in that region. 

 Not a living soul was visible any where ; the wigwams seemed 

 to have been deserted many months ; and an anxious hour or 

 two passed, after the ship was moored, before three canoes were 

 seen in the offing, paddling hastily towards us, from the place 

 now called Button Island. Looking through a glass I saw 

 that two of the natives in them were washing their faces, while 

 the rest were paddling with might and main : I was then sure 

 that some of our acquaintances were there, and in a few minutes 

 recognized Tommy Button, Jemmy's brother. In the other 

 canoe was a face which I knew yet could not name. " It must 

 be some one I have seen before," said I, — when his sharp eye 

 * Vol. I. p. 457-8. 

 Y 2 



