NATIVE KILLED RETURN TO SHIP 



399 



one say so. The oldest woman of the tribe was so powerful, 

 that two of the strongest men of our party could scarcely ])ull 

 her out from under the bank of the stream. The man who was 

 shot was one of those whom we had taken in the boat as a guide, 

 and the other was among our prisoners. Mr. Murray^s coats 

 were found in the wigwams divided into wrappers to throw 

 over the shoulders. We embarked the Indians (two men, three 

 women, and six children), and returned to the spot where we 

 had passed the preceding night. One man who escaped was a 

 one-eyed man we had seen before ; he was more active than 

 any, and soon out of our reach. Two or three others escaped 

 with him, whom I did not see distinctly. 



" That a life should have been lost in the struggle, I lament 

 deeply ; but if the Fuegian had not been shot at that moment, 

 his next blow might have killed Elsmore, who was almost 

 under water, and more than half stunned, for he had scarcely 

 sense to struggle away, upon feeling the man's grasp relax. 

 When fairly embarked, and before we asked any questions, the 

 natives seemed very anxious to tell us where our boat was ; 

 but pointed in a direction quite opposite to that which they 

 had previously shown us. We guarded them carefully through 

 the night, and next morning (14th) set out upon our return to 

 the Beagle, with twenty-two souls in the boat. My object was, 

 to put them in security on board, run down the coast with 

 the ship to some harbour more to the eastward, and then set 

 out again upon another search ; carrying some of my prisoners 

 as guides, and leaving the rest on board to ensure the former 

 remaining, and not deceiving us. We made tolerable progress, 

 though the boat was so over-loaded, and on the 15th reached 

 the Beagle with our living cargo. In our way we fell in with 

 a family of natives, whose wigwams and canoes we searched ; 

 but finding none of our property, we left them not only 

 unmolested, but gave them a few things, which in their eyes 

 were valuable. 



" This conduct appeared to surprise our prisoners, who, as 

 far as we could make out, received a wholesome lecture, instead 



