Sept. 1829. INDIA^sS IN PLANK CANOES. 267 



through ; but the wind moderated, and our attempt succeeded. 

 No anchorage being found by the boats on the north side of 

 the narrows, we made for the weather-shore of the gulf, and 

 anchored early in AVindward Bay. In the afternoon, angles 

 were taken on Middle Island, and east and west of the anchor- 

 age. The time of our departure drawing near, it became 

 doubly necessary to work constantly, that we might join this 

 survey with that of last year, in the Beagle. 



" 8th. Weighed at daylight ; wind light from N.W. ; but, 

 falling calm, boats were detached for continuing the angles, and 

 the latitude was observed on Red Beak Rocks. At five o'clock, 

 we gained an anchorage, close to the eastward of the An con 

 del Morro^ on the S.E. side of Division Isle, in a bay which 

 answered our purpose, although it was rather a confined place. 

 Some angles were taken on Point Candelaria, preparatory to 

 continuing our course next morning. 



" 9th. At daylight weighed and stood over to the northern 

 shore, and at eleven, anchored inNeeshamBay,in eleven fathoms. 

 iSoats employed in the afternoon, on the survey. While at 

 anchor, two canoes, containing together thirty-two Indians, 

 came alongside ; they were chiefly men, a finer race of people, 

 better formed, and better featured than the Fuegians, and much 

 less noisy. Their canoes were made of planks, the longest up- 

 wards of twenty-three feet in length: they appeared exceedingly 

 buoyant, and pulled quickly; 



" ]Oth. At daylight, we sailed out of the bay, with a 

 light breeze from the eastward ; at seven, the wind increased, 

 and a heavy sea rose in the gulf. It was my intention to get an 

 anchorage under Mount Corso ; but, as that was now a leeward 

 coast, with a heavy sea setting upon the shore, it would have 

 been improper to attempt seeking for one. If it had answered 

 our purpose, we might have gone to Port Henry, and, indeed, 

 this was the only safe course we could have pursued, if our 

 object had been to remain in the gulf ; but no time was left 

 to wait for favourable weather ; therefore I chose in preference 

 to leave the gulf, and take advantage of the fair wind to gain 

 an offing, the time of our return being so near. 



