Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

183?. TIERRA DEL FUEGO. 119 In the first volume some notice was taken of the supposed Ariel Rocks, and I will avail myself of this opportunity to say that at various times the Beagle passed over and near their asserted position; and that she likewise searched for the reported Aigle shoal or rock, without ever finding the slightest indication of either. On the 15th, we saw the land off Tierra del Fuego, near Cape San Sebastian, and next day closed the shore about Cape Sunday, ran along it past Cape Penas, and anchored off Santa Inez. A group of Indians was collected near Cape Penas, who watched our motions attentively. They were too far off for us to make out more than that they were tail men, on foot, nearly naked, and accompanied by several large dogs. To those who had never seen man in his savage state — one of the most painfully interesting sights to his civilized brother— even this distant glimpse of the aborigines was deeply engaging but York Minster and Jemmy Button asked me to fire at them, saying that they were " Oens-men— very bad men."" Our Fuegian companions seemed to be much elated at the certainty of being so near their own country ; and the boy was never tired of telling us how excellent his land was — how glad his friends would be to see him — and how well they would treat us in return for our kindness to him. We remained but a few hours at anchor under Cape Santa Inez, for so heavy a swell set in, directly towards the shore, caused probably by a northerly gale at a distance, that our situation was dangerous as weU as disagreeable. Our only chance of saving the anchor and chain was by weighing imme- diately ; yet if we did so, there would be a risk of drifting ashore : however, we did weigh, and drifted some distance, roll- ing our nettings in ; but a breeze sprung up, freshened rapidly, and soon carried us out of danger. This happened at three in the morning, so my hopes of observations and angles were frus- trated, and I had no choice but to run for the strait of Le Maire. At noon, very liigh breakers were reported by the mast-head man, off Cape San Diego ; at that time the flood-tide was set-