S26 



CAPTAIN CHEAP AND HIS PARTY. 



1741. 



were absent, some Indians had visited the wreck ; and, about a 

 fortnight after their return, they arrived a second time, in two 

 canoes. Among them was an Indian Cacique of the Chonos 

 tribe, who live in the neighbourhood of Childe. It was supposed 

 that a report of the wreck had reached that place ; and that 

 this Cacique, and another Indian, had come to derive some 

 advantage from it. As the Cacique spoke Spanish, the surgeon, 

 Mr. Elliot, made himself so far understood, as to let him know 

 that they wished to reach some of the Spanish settlements ; and 

 eventually bargained to give him the barge, and every thing in 

 it, if he would conduct them to Chiloe. The party consisted of 

 Captain Cheap ; Mr. Elliot, the surgeon ; Mr. Campbell, Mr. 

 Hamilton, and Mr. Byron, midshipmen ; and eight men, be- 

 sides the two Indians ; in all fifteen. The first night they 

 slept on an island, and the next laid upon their oars, to the 

 westward of Montrose Island, not being able to land. 



They then pulled, " to the bottom of a great bay, where the 

 Indian guide had left his family, a wife and two children.'" 

 There they staid two or three days ; after which, taking on 

 board the family, they proceeded to a river, "the stream of 

 which," Byron says, " was so rapid, that after our utmost 

 efforts, from morning to evening, we gained little upon the 

 current ; and, at last, were obliged to desist from our attempts, 

 and return." 



This was probably a river, or channel, to the westward of San 

 Quintin Sound, which eluded our search ; and, if so, it must 

 communicate with channels north-eastward of the Peninsula 

 of Tres Montes. The Indians, anxious to get the barge to the 

 Chonos, had no other way to effect their purpose ; for the usual 

 route was over the ' Desecho C to pass which, it was necessary 

 to take a boat or canoe to pieces, and carry her, piecemeal, 

 over a high mountain. 



After losing the barge, they crossed the Peninsula of Fore- 

 lius, by hauling canoes over a narrow neck of land, and reached 

 the water of San Quintin Sound ; where they met another 

 native family, with whom they proceeded to the River San 

 Tadeo, " up which they rowed four or five leagues ; and then 



