April 1829. STIIAGGLEUS KETUUN — 1>K0CEED. 215 



with it. Both boats were thoroughly cautioned about the 

 Indians, for I had thoughts of their treachery. Just as the 

 boats got out of sight, three people were observed on the ridge 

 of a hill, about six miles distant ; and, at the same time two 

 other persons appeared, much nearer the ship, on the east side 

 of the harbour. Which was our party, and who the others 

 were, it was perplexing to say. Both disappeared again for 

 about two hours, when our stragglers came over a hill, very 

 near the ship. Upon their arrival on board, they were scarcely 

 able to move : they had been on their legs, almost without 

 food, and without shelter from the rain, since they left the 

 ship. Their intention had been to walk round the harbour, 

 which appeared an employment for two hours only ; but at 

 its head they found a lake, and beyond that lake a much 

 larger one, joined to the first by a passage, which they could 

 not cross. When they arrived at this passage, it was too late 

 to return by the way they went, and their best chance seemed 

 to be going on. After dark, they tried to make a fire, but the 

 rain prevented them. It was too dark to see their way, and the 

 cold rain obliged them to keep moving about, though in one 

 place. When daylight came, they travelled on, and until they 

 reached the ship at two o'clock, were constantly walking. 



" The other people seen by us must have been Indians ; 

 none were met by our wanderers, but several places were passed 

 where fires had been made by them. 



" April 10th. Directly our boats returned, we weighed and 

 made sail ; but the wind soon failed, and the tide setting against 

 us, obliged me to anchor. 



" April 11th. Made sail towards the passage between Eliza- 

 beth Island and Cape Negro, and anchored there to wait for 

 the tide, which ran past us when at anchor, at the rate of three 

 knots an hour. About Cape Negro the appearance of the land 

 entirely changes. A low barren country gives way to hills 

 covered with wood, increasing in height, and becoming more 

 rocky and mountainous as you go southward. 



" On the 13th, when working near the land, against a light 

 southerly breeze, we saw a small canoe paddling along shore. 



