128 



FUEGIANS. 



March 1828. 



of the Adelaide ; and for some days had three anchors 

 down, owing to the violent squalls. Farenheif s thermometer 

 ranged between thirty-six and forty-six degrees, and we had 

 several snow storms, but the snow did not lie on the low 

 grounds. 



On the 28th the gale began to subside, and there was a 

 change for the better ; but we were again disappointed, and not 

 until the 31st could we effect our departure from this dreary 

 and confined little place. 



The day before we sailed, three canoes, containing in all six- 

 teen persons, of whom six only were men, came alongside. 



For about an hour they had hesitated to approach ; but 

 when once near us, very little invitation was necessary to induce 

 them to come on board. One was clothed in a duck shirt, which 

 was recognised by one of our people, who had joined us from 

 the Uxbridge, as having been given to them a few weeks 

 before, when that vessel passed through Magdalen Channel : 

 another wore a red flannel shirt, and in the canoe we observed 

 an European boarding-pike, painted green, and a part of the 

 iron-work of the cutter, burned at Port Famine during our 

 absence ; also some relics of the boat in which Mr. Ains worth 

 was drowned, which last they had doubtless found thrown up 

 on the beach. Upon our inquiring how they became possessed 

 of the iron-work, they pointed towards Port Famine; and I 

 have no doubt they were concerned in the fire; but as we 

 could not explain to them the mischief they had occasioned, it 

 was thought better not to notice the affair, and the articles 

 were returned to them. They could have had no idea of our 

 being the owners of the boat, or they would have concealed all 

 that belonged to her. 



They conducted themselves very quietly during their stay 

 on board, with the exception of one, who tried to pick my 

 pocket of a handkerchief ; the offender was ordered out of the 

 vessel, and there was no further attempt to pilfer. They wished 

 to go below ; but this was not permitted, because the odour of 

 their oily persons was scarcely tolerable, even in the open air. 

 As to food, tallow-candles, biscuit, beef, plumb-pudding, were 



