^2 Occurrences in the Navigation 



above cape forms the N. and E. point ;. and therefore cafiie to 

 anchor in 28 fathoms fine sand, distant four leagues N. from 

 that cape, and one league and a half from the Patagonian shore* 



SECTION III. 



Occurrences in the Navigatio7i of the Strait* 



No sooner had we let go the anchor, and hoisted out the boat, 

 than, on the opposite shore, we perceived a number of frres 

 lighted up, indicating that it was inhabited ; and being ex- 

 tremely desirous of examining with oiir own eyes a country so 

 variously described by different travellers, we rowed in to the 

 part of the shore where the natives were assembled, and all on 

 horseback, to receive us, showing however some apprehension 

 of danger from us* We made signs of friendly intentions,' pre-* 

 senting them with some trifles, and soon gained their confidence 

 so far that they accepted our invitation to go on-board the 

 frigate. The carelessness with which they left their compa- 

 nions on the shore, their horses, and other things which were 

 not wanted, while they wei)t on-board, gave a convincing 

 proof of the probity and good faith which subsist among them : 

 One of those that embarked spoke a few words of Spanish; 

 from which circumstance we concluded that he must have had 

 considerable intercourse with the Spanish settlements on the^ 

 northern parts of the coast. He mentioned the names of seve- 

 ral Spaniards, particularly Captain Antonio Viedma, and the 

 pilot Bernardo Tafor. He wore a sort of cloak passed over his 

 head, made of the cloth manufactured by our settlers in the 

 province of Rio de la Plata. In short, his whole dress resem- 

 bled that of the Creoles of South America, with the addition 

 only of a sort of cloak of the skins of the lama or guanaco 

 stitched together, and precisely like those which are made for 

 sale by the Indians of that province. His name he said was 

 Francisco Xavier, and was of the ordinary size of men. He 

 seemed to have complete authority over his companion, whose 

 overgrown figure, being six feet eleven inches and a half Spa- 

 nish measure in height, could not fail to excite much surprise 

 ip us inhabitants of the old continent. Francisco's attention 

 seemed to be chiefly fixed on a sabre he wore, and which, after 

 siundry applications, he suflered us to examine. It was m the 

 scabbard, and on the blade were the following words, Por el 

 liey Carlos III. {for King Ciiarles 111.) They were both pro- 



