1830. 



LOG OF SHIPWRECKED CREW. 



333 



blesome. 27t}i. Forty Indians came to us, all armed with bows, 

 arrows, and slings, without women or children. Some of our 

 people employed in building a shallop out of the wreck. 28th. 

 More Indians, with twelve strong women and eighteen chil- 

 dren : but unarmed on this day. 



" March 1st. More Indian visitors. 2d. Fifty-one natives, 

 armed."" To the 9th the crew continued to build their shallop, 

 and were almost daily visited by natives, whom two- thirds of 

 the party were obliged to watch with arms in their hands. On 

 the 21st sixty-one natives visited them (these Indians always 

 went away before dusk). On the 23d the time of high- water 

 was observed to be 4<^. 40"^, and the rise seventeen feet, during 

 moderate westerly wind and settled weather. Mr. Brisbane 

 made the latitude, by observation, 54° 38' S. and the longitude 

 he estimated at 65°. 30'. W. " 29th. Much troubled every 

 day by natives, who tried to steal our tools ; and hard pressed 

 by hunger. No supper(a) the last three days. 



" 2d April. Four long guns were found to the eastward, lying 

 on a piece of the forecastle of some large ship, supposed to be 

 a large frigate (6), also two leaden hawse pipes attached to the 

 woodwork. 8th. A large party of Indians, who were plaguing 

 us, quarrelled among themselves, and had a severe fight. 9th. 

 Our last remainder of provisions finished. 15th. Employed 

 caulking the shallop^s deck, and getting limpets from the rocks. 

 N. B. Almost starving. 17th. Not being troubled to-day by 

 natives, and the sea being smooth, went out in a little boat 

 which we had saved, and caught eleven skate.'' 



After this day several fish were caught at times, which, with 

 shell-fish, afforded a scanty subsistence; but before this time 

 they had been reduced to eating hide, and half putrid blubber, 

 which they got by barter from the Indians. Mr. Bray, as well 

 as Brisbane, told me that hunger and anxiety so wore and 

 excited them, that they could seldom sleep more than an hour 



faj Supper was their principal meal ; as during- the day, while the 

 Indians were about, they had no time to cook or eat. R. F. 

 Cbj Perhaps the O'Hig^gins— (Chilian). R. F, 



