WRECK OF THE CHALLENGER. 59 



friendly Indians of the district of Tucapel, and 

 appears to have much influence over them. He 

 urged us much to remain the night. We were 

 much questioned whether we belonged to a 

 merchant ship ; if the cargo was saved ; of what 

 it consisted ; and when we were going to land 

 it : to which Mr. Lane replied, that she was a 

 vessel of war, laden with powder and ball 

 which, on communicating to the group of In- 

 dians surrounding us, they held up their hands, 

 howled, and scratched their savage heads, ex- 

 pressive either of astonishment or disappoint- 

 ment. After exchanging our horses, which was 

 the object of our coming here, we continued our 

 way by the side of a thickly-wooded mountain, 

 until the road, if such it maybe called, the horses 

 being knee-deep in water, turned off through this 

 forest We had|not proceeded more than a hun- 

 dred yards, when the guide called out, < Yo he 

 perdido el camino,' (I have lost the road.) It was 

 at this time quite dark. Such were our prospects, 

 on a cold freezing night, without a dry thread, 

 and Mr. Lane without shoes. The guide rode 

 about two hours, endeavouring to regain the 

 road, or find an opening through almost impene- 

 trable wood, whilst we remained on one spot. 



