Orange Harbour. 

 l>:<;msitii>n of PM squadron. 



TKIUtA DEL FUEGO. 



A Petclicral 1 ml inn, In* ktjaflw, 

 and Tour children. 



23 



iug to the eye. bounded -Hi nil sides 1>v undulating 

 hills, which are covered with evergreen foliage. 

 Distant ninuutuius, some of which are capped with 

 snow, shooting up in a variety of forma, seen 

 beyond the extensive bays, form a fine background. 

 From the vessels, tin- hill* look like smooth downs, 

 and ir it were nut for the inclemency and fitfullies* 

 of the weather, they might be contemplated with 

 riotnu pleasure. 



The hills are covered with dense forests of 

 beech, birch, willow, and winter-bark. Some of 

 tin- former trees iuv forty or fifty feet high, having 

 :dl tin ir tops bent to the north-oast by the pre- 

 vailing south-west winds. They are remarknhly 

 even «s to bright, having more the look, at a dis- 

 tance, of heath than of forest trees. 



The whole, coast hast the apjKiaranee of being of 

 recent volcanic nicks, but nil our investigations 

 tended to prove the contrary. We no where found 

 any cellular lava, pumice, or obsidian, nor was 

 there any granite or other primiitve rock sceu, 

 though reported by Captain King as existing. The 

 rock was true by lie, or of trap fonnatum, apparently 

 having undergone more or loss action by fire. 



Immediately on our arrival at Orange Harbour, 

 active preparations were made for a short cruise to 

 the antarctic. Although l he season was late, I at 

 least anticipated getting some experience among 

 the ice; and I supposed that the lateness of the 

 t-easun would have allowed it to detach itself from 

 the 'iions of Palmer's Land, am] would per- 

 mit as near an approach a^ possible to its mnin 

 bndv or barrier, in the vicinity of Cook's Nc Plus 

 Ultra. 



Agreeably to my instructions, such disposition 

 was made- of the squadron as seemed best calcu- 

 lated to obtain the necessary results in the different 

 departments. Captain Hudson, with the Peacock, 

 and the Flying Fish, under Lieutenant Walker, 

 as a tender, were ordered to ihe westward, as far 

 as the Ne i'lus Ultra of Cook. I went in the Per- 

 poise, Lieutenant- Commandant Ringgold, accom- 

 panied by the Sea-Gull, Lieutenant Johnson, to 

 pass to the smith, for the purpose, if possible, of 

 exploring the south-east aide of Palmer's Land, or, 

 should an opportunity offer, of proceeding further 

 south. The Relief, Lieutenant-Commandant Long, 

 was ordure-] into the Ssr.nl- of Magellan, through 

 the Brecknock Passage end Coekbunfs Sound, 

 with part of the gentlemen of the scientific corps, 

 in order to enlarge our field of operations. Mr. 

 Peale volunteered to go south in the Peacock. 



The Viueetines was safely moored in Orango 

 Harbour, and left under the charge of Lieutenant 

 Craven, to carry on the investigations, surveys, 

 &c. &.c. Messrs. Couthouy and Drayton, of the 

 scientific corps, remained in the Vincennes, Lieu- 

 lenanl (.'hit was put in charge of the observatory. 



In making the changes necessary for this erniso 

 to the south, I regretted extremely being compelled, 

 from the want of junior officers, to supersede lem- 

 purarily boih Passed Midshipmen Reid and Knox 

 in command of the two tenders. These officers 

 had not their superiors in the squadron for the 

 situations they occupied ; but the duly I owed the 

 expedition and country compelled me to do it, and 

 also to refuse their application to be transferred 

 from the tenders, fur I was well satisfied, as long 

 as they were on board, the vessels would be well 

 taken care of. 1 had a very high opinion of Air. 



Reid, from the experience I had bad of him ; and 

 as respects Mr. Knox, I feel it my duty here to 

 acknowledge how much the expedition is indebted 

 to him for bis services on board the Flying- Fish. 

 He not only had the ability, but the necessary per- 

 severance and ambit ion, to perform his duties w< II. 

 So arduous were they, that i was* for a lime 

 obliged to transfer him to my ship on account »f 

 his health. The moment his health permitted it, 

 he w as again put in command of the Flying- Fish, to 

 the great advantage i.f die service. In according 

 thus much to his industry, ability, and zeal, 1 am 

 well satisfied that I but speak the opinion of every 

 officer in the squadron. 



The vessels were well supplied with fuel, provi- 

 sions, and various antiscorbutics, for ten months. 

 A ■spot for the observatory was fixed upon, and 

 orders left for the duties to be performed during the 

 absence of the squadron. 



During our stay, we bad at various times visits 

 from the natives. They were all at first very shy, 

 but after they found our friendly disposition to- 

 wards them, tiny became more sociable and con 

 tiding. 



Before our departure from Orange Harbour, a 

 bark canoe came alongside with an Indian, his 

 squaw, and four children. The tribe to which they 

 belonged is known by the name of the 1'etcherai 

 Indians. They were entirely naked, with the ex- 

 ception of a small piece of seal-skin, only sufficient 

 to cover one shoulder, nnd which is generally 

 worn on tho side from which the wind bluws, 

 affording them some little shelter against its pierc- 

 ing influence. 



They were not more than five feet high, of » 

 light copper colour, which is much concealed by 

 smut and dirt, particularly on their faces, which 

 they mark vertically with charcoal. They have 

 short faces, narrow foreheads, and hi^h cheek- 

 bones. Their eyes are small and usually black, tho 

 upper eyelids in the inner corner overlapping tho 

 under one, and bear a strong resemblance to those 

 of the Chinese, their nose is broad and fiat, with 

 wide-spread nostrils, mouth large, teeth white, 

 large, ami regular. The hair is long, lank, and 

 black, hanging over the face, and is covered with 

 white ashes, which gives them a hideous appear- 

 ance. The whole face is compressed. Their bodies 

 are remarkable from the great development of the 

 chest, shoulders, and vertebral column; their arms 

 are long, anil out of proportion; their legs small and 

 ill-made. There is in fact little difference between 

 the size of the ankle and leg; and when standing, 

 the skin at the knee hangs in a large loose fold. In 

 some, the muscles of the leg appear almost wanting, 

 and possess very little strength. This want of de- 

 velopment in the muscles of the legs is owing to 

 their constant sitting posture, both in their huts 

 and canoe--. Their skin is sensibly colder than 

 ours. It is impossible to fancy anything inhuman 

 nature more filthy. They are an ill-shapen and 

 ugly race. They have little or no idea of the rela- 

 tive value of articles, even of those that one would 

 suppose were of the utmost use to them, sued as 

 iron and glass-ware, A glass bottle broken into 

 pieces, is valued as much as a knife. Red flannel 

 lorn into stripe*, pleases them more than in tho 

 piece; they w.-ui.d it around tie ir hea ls, us a kind 

 of turban, ami it was amusing to see their satisfac- 

 tion at this small acquisition. 



