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

330 NEW SETTLEMENT BEGUN. March rest. He carefully searched every building in the place, with- out seeing even a trace of them. All was desolation ; yet he learned afterwards from the two innocent gauchoes, that An- tonio Rivero and another, suspecting who the party were, had watched them closely : that at one time Lieut. Smith was near treading on them ; which seemed hardly credible, until the arrangements made on landing, the marching in Indian file to hide his men, &c. were mentioned. Mr. Smith left with Chan- non Luna's pardon, who, on the fourth day, brought in two horses — not having been able to obtain more, as the murderers were very watchful and fearful of each other, so much so, that one of them had fallen a sacrifice to suspicion ; and Luna''s desertion reduced their number to six. With Luna for their guide, on the sixth day Lieut. Smith, four midshipmen and twelve marines, were despatched into the interior. They were absent four days, and marched more than a hundred miles, enduring much fatigue, which was increased by the boisterous state of the weather, and by continual rain for three out of the four days. Water in ravines, which on going out hardly rose above their ankles, on their return had increased to torrents : in crossing them some nearly lost their lives, and on the bleak moors they sunk at every step knee-deep in bog. Without sleep or shelter, they lived for the last two days on beef just warmed through, by fires that it took hours to kindle. They were not successful in capturing any of the murderers, but at one time were so near, that they had the mortification to see them drive their horses away at a gallop, and having all the tame ones but two, they were quickly out of reach of musket-shot. So hasty however was their retreat, that they left their provisions behind them. Captain Seymour finding that capturing the Indians would be a tedious and uncertain task, made one of the ruined houses habitable, and leaving six mai'ines as an additional protection to Lieut. Smith and his boat's crew, proceeded as ordered. The lieutenant endea- voured to make his abode comfortable, by clearing away rub- bish and bones, and putting a garden into some order. With the two horses he succeeded in catching and taming two cows,