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

212 SCOUT DEPAKTURE. Jail. Avhich was intentionally placed so that they could see the effect of the balls. At sunset they went away as usual, but looking very grave, and talking earnestly. About an hour after dark, the sentry saw something moving along the ground near our tents, within the boundary line, which he thought was a wild animal, and had just levelled his rausket to fire at it, when he discovered it was a man, who instantly darted off, and was lost in the darkness. Some native had doubtless stolen to the tents, to see what we were doing ; perhaps with a view to surprise us, if asleep, perhaps only to steal. 27th. While a few of our party were completing the thatch of the last wigwam, and others were digging in the garden which was made, I was much surprised to see that all the natives were preparing to depart ; and very soon afterwards every canoe was set in motion, — not half a dozen natives remaining. Even Jemmy's own family, his mother and bro- thers, left us ; and as he could give no explanation of this sudden departure, I was in much doubt as to the cause. Whether an attack was meditated, and they were removing the women and cliildren, previous to a general assembly of the men, or whether they had been frightened by our display on the preceding evening, and feared that we intended to attack them, I could not ascertain ; but deeming the latter by far the most probable, I decided to take the opportunity of their departure to give Matthews his first trial of passing a night at the new wigwams. Some among us thought that the natives intended to make a secret attack, on account of the great temptation our pro- perty offered ; and in consequence of serious offence which had been taken by two or three old men, who tried to force them- selves into our encampment, while I was at a little distance one of whom, when resisted by the sentry, spit in his face ; and went off in a violent passion, muttering to himself, and every now and then turning round to make faces and angry ges- tures at the man who had very quietly, though firmly, pre- vented his encroachment. In consequence of this incident, and other symptoms of a