16 GREGORY BAY NATIVES. DeC. 1826. 



with the Beagle on account of the weather, and the strength of 

 the tide ; this opportunity was therefore taken to supply her 

 with water, of which she had only enough left for two days. 



The greater part of this day was spent on shore, examining 

 the country and making observations. Large smokes^ were 

 noticed to the westward. The shore was strewed with traces 

 of men and horses, and other animals. Foxes and ostriches 

 were seen ; and bones of guanacoes were lying about the 

 ground. 



The country in the vicinity of this anchorage seemed open, 

 low, and covered with good pasturage. It extends five or six 

 miles, with a gradual ascent, to the base of a range of flat- 

 topped land, whose summit is about fifteen hundred feet above 

 the level of the sea. Not a tree was seen ; a few bushesj- 

 alone interrupted the uniformity of the view. The grass ap- 

 peared to have been cropped by horses or guanacoes, and was 

 much interspersed with cranberry plants, bearing a ripe and 

 juicy, though very insipid fruit. 



Next day the wind was too strong and adverse to permit us 

 to proceed. In the early part of the morning an American 

 sealing vessel, returning from the Madre de Dios Archipelago 

 on her way to the Falkland Islands, anchored near us. Mr. 

 Cutler, her master, came on board the Adventure, passed the 

 day and night with us, and gave me much useful information 

 respecting the nature of the navigation, and anchorages in the 

 Strait. He told me there was an Englishman in his vessel who 

 was a pilot for the strait, and willing to join the ship. I gladly 

 accepted the offer of his services. 



In the evening an Indian was observed on horseback riding 

 to and fro upon the beach, but the weather prevented my send- 

 ing a boat until the next morning, when Lieutenant Cooke 

 went on shore to communicate with him and other Indians who 

 appeared, soon after dawn, upon the beach. On landing, he 

 was received by them without the least distrust. They were 

 eight or ten in number, consisting of an old man and his 

 wife, three young men, and the rest children, all mounted on 

 * Columns of smoke rising from large fires. f Berberis. 



