APPENDIX. 



149 



Secondly^ — That many of the stores have been thrown 

 overboard to lighten the ship, or to save the crew ; of 

 the remainder, most are damaged, and the sails, ropes, 

 and spars, from absolute necessity, have been consumed 

 or rendered useless by the injury received in forming 

 barricades for defence against the Indians, and shelter 

 for the crew. A few of the heavier stores remain on 

 board : such as spare topmasts, topsail-yards, hemp and 

 chain cables, eight or ten guns, &c. ; but under the cir- 

 cumstances above mentioned, the only useful objects to 

 be borne in mind are the preservation of the lives of 

 the crew, and the salvage of as many stores, provisions, 

 and furniture as possible: for these purposes an encamp- 

 ment has been formed on the beach in the only situ- 

 ation capable of any defence from the Indians, protected 

 by, and itself protecting, the wreck. 



Thirdly^ — That this encampment, however, is open 

 to many objections. It is situated on a low mound of 

 sand, nearly surrounded by marshy flats, exposed to 

 the overflowings of the sea, and even to be swept away 

 by its rising ; a calamity which we understood aflOiicted 

 Talcuhuano, and many parts of this coast, after the 

 great earthquake on the 20th of February last. It is 

 now the middle of winter, and heavy and continued 

 rains must be hourly expected. Swarms of large mice 

 threaten the tents and provision with destruction. The 

 position is consequently both unhealthy and insecure. Re- 

 ports, too, are frequently brought to the encampment of 

 attacks meditated by the more southern Indians, which 

 tend to harass the men by making it necessary to keep 

 them under arms. Should such an attack be successful, 

 the only retreat is into a heavy broken surf on the rear, in 



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