WRECK OF THE CHALLENGER. 117 



up our camp. The Captain and a party of offi- 

 cers crossed the river ; rode to the opposite 

 point of the bay, to see a curious cavern, known 

 to the Indians as having formerly given shelter 

 to the notorious pirate and rebel, Benivedes, 

 and his party, and who were for some time suc- 

 coured by them against the wrath of the Chilian 

 forces. The road to this cave was a difficult 

 one, through an almost impassable wood, and 

 down a steep declivity from the hills above it. 

 It was large, and sufficiently spacious to contain 

 1000 or 1500 men. 



The party, on their return, visited the Indians 

 in the huts on the plain north of the river ; and 

 succeeded, under the authority and assistance of 

 Sylva, in extracting from them a couple of fine 

 turkeys, with which they returned to the camp : 

 they sat some time in the huts, and got some 

 well-roasted potatoes from the inmates. A mo- 

 ther, half naked, was suckling her naked infant ; 

 and poultry and dogs were moving about in all 

 directions : a pile of maize straw was heaped, in 

 a particular form, on one side, which appeared 

 to be the sleeping place for the whole party, and 

 common to all, and very dirty. The influence 

 of Don Bernardino had procured us the luxury 



I 8 



