THE CHILIAN SETTLEMENT OF 1843. 
359 
landed here with a view of establishing a settle- 
ment, under the direction of Sarmiento (in 1581), 
their object being to fortify two positions (one here, 
the other at Cape Possession), in order to prevent 
the English from passing through. After a short 
time Sarmiento left for Spain, and on his way there 
he was taken prisoner by Sir Walter Raleigh, and 
brought to England, while the unfortunate colonists 
were left to starve in the straits. Their fate re- 
mained unknown, until Cavendish passed through in 
1587, when he found only twenty -four out of the 
original four hundred colonists. The port was then 
named Port Famine, in commemoration of the sad 
fate of its first settlers. 
The excellent anchorage and sheltered position 
were the chief reasons for its being selected by the 
Chilians for establishing their first colony ; but the 
same ill-lack appears to have attended it ; for after 
struggling on for some years, during which time the 
colonists were frequently reduced to great distress by 
the failure of supplies arriving from Chili, it was 
sacked and burnt down by the convicts, who 
mutinied and killed all the officials, making good 
their escape in a small vessel. Eventually, how- 
ever, they were captured, and met with their de- 
served punishment. 
Our stay was very short here. Still numbers 
landed as usual in search of sport and specimens ; 
but as so much rain had fallen, the country in all 
