1587. 



SARMIENTO'S COLONY. 



when one of the boats struck upon a reef, and was lost, but 

 the people were saved. The loss of this boat caused them to 

 give up every hope of saving themselves in that way ; and 

 Viedma, with Suarez, the friar, and twenty soldiers, returned 

 in the remaining boat to San Felipe, leaving the rest of the 

 party, consisting of thirty men and five women, to support 

 themselves through the approaching winter as they could. After 

 that season had passed, Viedma sent to collect the wanderers ; 

 but fifteen men, and three women only, could be found ; the 

 rest having died of hunger and disease. The survivors then 

 determined upon going to the first establishment at Jesus ; 

 on their way to which they passed by the skeletons of the two 

 hundred who had been first detached. Travelling onwards, 

 they observed three ships entering the strait, which anchored 

 at a distance to the southward. 



During the night, Viedma and his companions kept up 

 large fires, supposing that the ships belonged to their own 

 nation. Next morning a boat was despatched from them ; 

 and three of Viedma''s party obtained permission to go and 

 reconnoitre her. Having approached near enough, a signal 

 was made ; upon which, the people in the boat pulled to- 

 wards the beach, and said they were from England, bound 

 to Peru, and that if the Spaniards wanted a passage, they had 

 better embark. After some hesitation, arising from the fear 

 of trusting themselves in the power of heretics, they consented ; 

 and one was permitted to get in, but the other two were 

 left on the beach. In the boat was the enterprizing Cavendish* 

 himself, who, on hearing the particulars of their story, sent 

 the other two soldiers to Viedma, offering to take him and the 

 residue of his people on board. Cavendish returned to his ship; 

 but, without further delay, sailed on to the Isla dos Patos 

 (Santa Magdalena Island), where he leisurely salted down six 

 casks of penguins ; and then proceeded to San Felipe, for wood 

 and water ; he remained there four days (during which time he 

 destroyed the houses of the Spaniards, and embarked six 

 guns) ; and thence continued his voyage. The person saved 



* Formerly spelled ' Candish.' 

 vol, I. D 



