io the Strait cf Magellan. 



41 



boats from oversetting. In this desperate situation, it being 

 impossible to run under either shore, we could only strive to 

 keep our boats before the wind, and so were driven for above 

 ten miles ; and at last, near four p.m., managed to get into an 

 open bay on the south coast, which we justly named the Bay of 

 Good Fortune, lying to the WSW. of Cape Tamar. Our pro- 

 visions were now greatly reduced, and our voyage had occupied 

 much more time than had heen supposed to be necessary ; the 

 tempest had, however, scarcely abated, we therefore resolved 

 to remain all night in that fortunate station. Next morning, 

 notwithstanding that the sea and the wind continued as boister- 

 ous as before, with the addition of incessant rain, we left our 

 birth, and, in order to clear the rocks and shoals, stood out a 

 couple of miles from the land. Keeping our boats' heads as 

 much as possible before the wind and sea, we run down above 

 37 miles, and at last got under the lee on the east side of Cape 

 Monday, where we again observed several bearings of objects 

 on the opposite coast. Next morning the gale had abated, but 

 the swell continued ; we nevertheless managed to cross over to 

 the north shore, near Cape Quade, where we put in for the 

 night, and on the tollowing day had the unexpected happiness 

 to arrive in Port Galan, or St. Joseph, where our ship still lay, 

 and where our return began to be despaired of ; our expedition 

 having lasted no less than %2 days. Notwithstanding the dura- 

 tion and hardships of our voyage, especially for men accustomed 

 to the very opposite climate of the south of Spain, only one of 

 our company was taken ill. This was a seaman, who, soon after 

 we left the ship, was attacked by an ague, but who perfectly re- 

 covered his health, in the midst of our toils, without the use of 

 any remedy. 



Whilst we lay in Port Galan or St. Joseph, w^e had considera- 

 ble intercourse with the natives, whom we called the Indians of 

 Tierra del Fuego ; both because that tract of country seemed 

 to be their usual place of abode, and that Captain Cook found 

 the same nation established on the most southerly parts of it. 

 We never discovered in them any depravity of inclination ; not 

 even that which might be deemed so natural to men in their 

 situation, of making themselves masters of any thing belonging 

 to us, which could only be done by theft: but, far from attri- 

 buting this conduct to any sense of moral virtue inherent in 

 these men, we were rather inclined, after much attentive ob- 

 servation, to account for it on the ground, that nothing is capa- 

 ble of moving the torpid indolence of their hearts. 



They often left us; at one time altogether, at another by 

 parties : at last, on the 2ith February, they entirely forsook 



1 



