Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.1): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

326 CAPTAIN CHEAP AND HIS PARTY. 1741. were absent, some Indians had visited the wreck ; and, about a fortnight after their return, they arrived a second time, in two canoes. Among them was an Indian Cacique of the Chonos tribe, who live in the neighbourhood of Chilc5e. It was supposed that a report of the wreck had reached that place ; and that this Cacique, and another Indian, had come to derive some advantage from it. As the Cacique spoke Spanish, the surgeon, Mr. Elliot, made himself so far understood, as to let him know that they wished to reach some of the Spanish settlements ; and eventually bargained to give him the barge, and every thing in it, if he would conduct them to Chiloe. The party consisted of Captain Cheap ; Mr. Elliot, the surgeon ; Mr. Campbell, Mr. Hamilton, and Mr. Byron, midshipmen ; and eight men, be- sides the two Indians ; in all fifteen. The first night they slept on an island, and the next laid upon their oars, to the westward of Montrose Island, not being able to land. They then pulled, " to the bottom of a great bay, where the Indian guide had left his family, a wife and two children." There they staid two or three days ; after which, taking on board the family, they proceeded to a river, " the stream of which," Byron says, " was so rapid, that after our utmost efforts, from morning to evening, we gained little upon the current ; and, at last, were obliged to desist from our attempts, and return." This was probably a river, or channel, to the westward of San Quintin Sound, which eluded our search ; and, if so, it must communicate with channels north-eastward of the Peninsula of Tres Montes. The Indians, anxious to get the barge to the Chonos, had no other way to effect their purpose ; for the usual route was over the ' Desecho ;"" to pass which, it was necessary to take a boat or canoe to pieces, and carry her, piecemeal, over a high mountain. After losing the barge, they crossed the Peninsula of Fore- lius, by hauling canoes over a narrow neck of land, and reached the water of San Quintin Sound ; where they met another native family, with whom they proceeded to the River San Tadeo, " up which they rowed four or five leagues ; and then