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

APPENDIX. 125 to four of the people to go to the end of the bay, about two miles distant from the bell tent, to occupy the skeleton of an old Indian wigwam, which I had discovered in a walk that way upon our first landing. This we covered to windward with sea-weed ; and, lighting a fire, laid ourselves down in hopes of finding a remedy for our hunger in sleep ; but we had not long composed ourselves before one of our company was disturbed by the blowing of some animal at his face ; and, upon opening his eyes, was not a little astonished to see by the glimmering of the fire, a large beast standing over him. He had presence of mind enough to snatch a brand from the fire, which was now very low, and thrust it at the nose of the animal, who thereupon made off." . . . . "In the morning, we were not a little anxious to know how our companions had fared ; and this anxiety was increased upon om: tracing the footsteps of the beast in the sand, in a direction towards the bell tent. The impression was deep and plain, of a large round foot well furnished vnth. claws. Upon acquainting the people in the tent with the circumstances of our story, we found that they too had been visited by the same un- welcome guest, which they had driven away by much the same ex- pedient. "We now returned from this cruise, with a strong gale, to Wager's Island ; here we soon discovered, by the quarters of dogs hanging up, that the Indians had brought a fresh supply to our market. Upon inquiry, we found that there had been six canoes of them, who, among other methods of taking fish, had taught their dogs to drive the fish into a comer of some pond, or lake, from whence they were easily taken out by the skill and address of these savages." " Upon returning up the Lagoon,* we were so fortunate as to kill some seal, which we boiled and laid in the boat for sea-stock. While we were ranging along-shore in detached parties, in quest of this and whatever other eatable might come in our way, oiu- surgeon, who was then by himself, discovered a pretty large hole, wliich seemed to lead to some den, or repository, within the rocks. It was not so rude, or natural, but that there were some signs of its having been cleared and made more accessible by industry. The surgeon for some time hesitated whether he should venture in, from his un- certainty as to the reception he might meet with from any inha- bitant ; but his curiosity getting the better of his fears, he deter- mined to go in ; which he did upon his hands and knees, as the * HoUoway Sound — near Port Otway.