238 



FUEGTAN ABUSE WHALE SOUND. June 1829. 



light breeze in our favour. Seeing a canoe coming across, we 

 made towards it, and found a wretched-looking family, consist- 

 ing of a man, his wife, and three children, with some small dogs, 

 seemingly more miserable than their owners. A few wooden- 

 headed spears were all the property they possessed, excepting 

 the worn-out skins thrown over their shoulders. The man sold 

 me a little dog for a bit of tobacco, and afterwards wanted to 

 have him again, because his wife would not consent to the bar- 

 gain. However, I kept the dog, and they began to abuse us in 

 right earnest, the woman alternately crying and scolding, and 

 the man apparently calling on the wind and water to destroy 

 us. His gestures were very expressive and animated. I was 

 surprised to see so much feeling for a wretched little half-starved 

 puppy, and made them happy by returning him, without ask- 

 ing for the tobacco. 



" El Morrion (p) (the helmet) was certainly an excellent 

 name for the promontory we passed this day. It reminded me 

 of the ' Castle of Otranto.^ 



" We reached a small islet, at the west point of Charles 

 Bay, and passed a good night on the top of a bare rock. So 

 often had we slept in wet places, that a dry, though stony 

 berth, was thought very comfortable. The boat's two sails, 

 oars, and boat-hook, formed our tent. 



" 6th. We left the islet as soon after day-light as we could 

 get breakfast, and take the required bearings and angles ; went 

 into Spot Cove, thence crossed to Charles Island, and to the 

 narrow opening between it and the nearest land. Ulloa''s 

 memory can no longer be preserved here in an island, though 

 it may in a peninsula. This small channel is narrow, and has a 

 strong tide setting through it. There is anchorage all the way, 

 though generally over a rocky bottom, and it is navigable for 

 small vessels : its average width is a quarter of a mile, and its 

 length about three miles. For a boat going westward through 

 the Strait, it is far preferable to the regular channel. Two old 

 Fuegians were living here, a man and a woman. 



c< When in Whale Sound, appearances were such that had I 

 (/>) Noticed previously by Captain Stokes. — R. F. 



