April 1828. 



FUEGIANS. 



135 



of the Saxe Cobourg's crew, those staves were seen in the pos- 

 session of the Indians. 



A fine morning (11th) induced us to leave this quiet ancho- 

 rage, to examine the openings of the south shore ; and in the 

 afternoon, the anchor was dropped in a convenient place, on the 

 west side of the western inlet, named by us Warrington Cove. 

 While crossing the bay from Point Elvira, the north extremity 

 of Cayetano Island, several ' smokes'* were observed on the low 

 land, at the bottom of the inlet ; and after we anchored two 

 canoes visited us, containing six men, four women, and two or 

 three children. They approached very cautiously, and could 

 not be induced to come alongside. At last the men landed, 

 and invited us to communicate with them. I therefore went 

 on shore with two or three officers, and remained with them 

 half an hour, during which they gradually lost the distrust 

 they had at first evinced ; but each man still carried a number 

 of pebbles in the corner of his wrapper, ready to repel any 

 attack we might make upon them ; from the knowledge we 

 have since obtained of their character, I think it probable 

 that they had lately committed some act of aggression on a seal- 

 ing-vessel, and were afraid of retaliation. Our conduct tended 

 to assure them of our friendship ; and, shortly after we left the 

 shore, they came alongside in their canoes, and were very fami- 

 liar, eagerly bartering their necklaces and baskets. In their 

 way to us they had probably landed their more valuable goods, 

 such as otter and seal-skins, as well as their weapons and dogs, 

 without which they never go far. 



The natives of this part are considered by the sealers to be 

 the most mischievously inclined of any in the Strait, or Tierra 

 del Fuego. The appearance of our visitors was certainly against 

 them ; but they did not commit themselves during our two or 

 three days'* communication, by any act which could make us 

 complain, or cause suspicion of their honesty and friendship. 

 We, however, kept too good a look-out, to enable them to take 

 advantage of our seeming good-nature. 



Among bushes behind the high beach were three wigwams, 

 but the Indians had no intention of remaining with us for the 



