Aug. 18^28. 



GREGORY BAY — NATIVES. 



183 



OS at anchor off Peckefs Harbour before we entered the Second 

 Narrow, 



Upon our anchoring under Cape Gregory, two or three Pata- 

 gonians were seen on the beach, and before half an hour had 

 elapsed others joined them. By sunset several toldos, or tents, 

 were erected, and a large party had arrived. When the Adelaide 

 first went to Pecket's Harbour, Mr. Tarn told the Indians 

 that the Adventure would be at Gregory Bay in twenty-five 

 days, and, accidentally, we arrived punctually to the time. The 

 Patagonians must have been on their way to meet us, for they 

 could not have travelled from Pecket's Harbour in the short 

 space of time that we were in sight. To their great mortification, 

 however, we held no communication with them that evening, 

 and the next day the weather was so bad we could not even 

 lower a boat. At noon the wind blew harder than I had ever 

 witnessed ; but since we were on good holding-ground, and the 

 water was smooth, no danger was anticipated. 



As the snow-squalls cleared off, we looked towards the 

 Patagonians, with the full expectation of seeing their huts 

 blown down : — to our astonishment, they had withstood the 

 storm, although placed in a very exposed situation. We counted 

 twelve or fourteen of them, and judging by our former expe- 

 rience of the number belonging to each, there must have been, 

 at least, one hundred and fifty persons collected. During the 

 gale they kept close ; and it was only now and then that a soli- 

 tary individual was observed to go from one toldo to another. 



The weather having moderated, the Beagle and Adelaide 

 joined us on the following day. They rode the gale out, with- 

 out accident, off the entrance of Peckef s Harbour. The next 

 morning being fine, we prepared to proceed ; but previous to 

 weighing I landed, and communicated with our old acquain- 

 tances. Maria was with them, and, if possible, dirtier, and 

 more avaricious than ever. We collected theguanaco meat they 

 had brought for us ; distributed a few parting presents, and 

 then returned on board. 



The Adelaide brought sixteen hundred pounds of meat, 

 which, with what was first obtained, amounted to four thousand 



