194 



F IRE^G U AN AC OE S . 



March 18^9^ 



supposing it might be in distress, if not one of the Adelaide's, 

 kindled a fire to attract attention. As the grass was very dry, 

 it blazed furiously, and spread rapidly around, yet without 

 exciting fear that it could do us any injury ; but the next 

 morning flames being observed on the crest of the hills, behind 

 the valley in which our tent had been erected, a boat was sent 

 to save it, and remove the instruments. Our men had just 

 left the ship, when, fanned by a land breeze which rose with 

 the sun, the flames flew on with rapidity, descended the valley* 

 and before the boat reached the shore, had consumed every 

 vestige of the tent, and several articles of minor consequence. 

 The sextant and artificial horizon, lying on the ground, escaped 

 destruction, and the dipping-needle had fortunately been taken 

 on board. Before the fire burned itself out, the whole country 

 for fifteen or twenty miles around was completely over-run, so 

 that all hope of procuring guanacoes was destroyed. Previous 

 to the fire, Mr. Tarn had shot one ; but being young, the car- 

 case only weighed one hundred pounds, and was scarcely worth 

 the trouble of sending fifteen miles for ; however, as an amuse- 

 ment to the people, I sent a party to bring it on board, and it 

 proved sufficient to furnish the ship's company with a fresh 

 meal. 



We had seen several herds within four miles of the ship 

 before the conflagration ; but the country was so very level 

 and open, that these shy animals were always warned of the 

 approach of our people by their vigilant scouts. So watchful 

 and attentive is the look-out at his post, that he never drops his 

 head even to feed, and it is only with the greatest cunning and 

 care a man can get near the herd. The best way is, to lie con- 

 cealed near the water holes, and await their coming to drink. 

 A small stream of fresh water trickled over the beach into the 

 bay, fringed by a patch of grass which the fire had spared, at 

 which having once observed a guanaco drinking, we set a 

 watch ; but whether the animals were aware of it or not, none 

 came until the morning we sailed, when a small herd walked 

 down to the place quite unconcernedly, having no doubt first 

 ascertained that there was no danger. 



