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

414) NATIVES DISPERSED. March 1830, arms. It appeared that the savages knew of no alternative but escape or death, and that in trying to take them they would certainly do material injury to some of our party with their spears, stones, or large knives made of pieces of iron hoops. Remaining therefore Avith Lieut. Kempe, in the cutter, to watch their motions, I sent my boat on board with the man who was hurt. The Fuegians made their escape separately through the bushes, and were quickly out of sight and reach : we fired a few shots to frighten them, watched their retreat over the barren upper part of the hills, and then went to look for their wig- wams, which could not be far distant, as I thought ; but after unsuccessfully searching all the coves near us, a smoke was seen at the opposite side of the sound, on one of the Whittle- bury islands ; so concluding it was made by the rest of their tribe, and being late, I returned on board. " 9th. At daylight, next morning, I went to look for the wigwams, on the Whittlebury Islands, at the north side of the sound : we saw their smoke when we were half-way across, but no longer. The natives had probably seen us, and put out their fire directly, well knowing the difference between our boat and their own canoes, and noticing her coming from a part of tlie sound distant from the point whence they would expect their own people, and crossing over against a fresh breeze, which a canoe could not attempt to do. The wig- wams were entirely deserted, and almost every thing was taken away; but near tlieir huts a piece of ' King's white line,' quite new, was picked up; therefore our boat* had been there, or these were some of the people who stole her. For the late inmates of the wigwams we searched in vain — only their dogs remained, they themselves being hidden. Looking round on the other side of that islet, we saw two canoes paddling right away from the islands, though it was blowing a fresh breeze, and a considerable sea was running. Knowing, from the place they were in, and their course, that they were the fugitives from the wigwams, we gave chase, and came up with them before • In the lost boat were several pieces of spare line, ' King's white line,' quite new.