Patagonia Bookshelf

The next morning, Thursday, Feb. 20th we early proceeded to Cape Gregory casting anchor at something less than one mile N. E. by N. of the point, which proved an excellent station. We soon perceived a smoke on shore but could not see any inhabitants. Captain Gardiner, Captain Boyse, Mr. Brown, our fellow passengers and myself were rowed ashore and soon met with one man, whom we at first thought a Fuegian and probably he is one who has settled in this country.

We understood from his signs that the Patagonians were more to the West, consequently, Captain Gardiner, Mr. Brown and I passed on in that direction for about eight miles, making a smoke occasionally but we found no recent traces of them or their horses. Therefore, Captain Gardiner told me that he would not make a smoke at the extreme point that we had reached, but had made up his mind to ask Captain Boyse to take us on to the Chilean Settlement at Port Famine.

We therefore began to return. Not having been accustomed to much exercise and having had a sick passage, walking through the long grass mile after mile, soon tired me and I was left alone, out of hearing and sometimes out of sight and, I began to think, out of mind too. This was not very pleasant as none of us know who, or how many, might be watching us. However, we reached the ship in the evening in safety after having seen nine of the inhabitants, the family of the man who met us in the morning. Captain Boyse soon satisfied us that it was out of his power to land us and our provisions anywhere else than at Cape Gregory.