Wednesday the 2d, little wind, with rain. At nine this morning row'd out and got about a league farther down; the wind beginning to blow fresh, we put into another cove, and found plenty of shell-fish, which kept up our spirits greatly, for it is enough to deject any thinking man, to see that the boat will not turn to windward, being of such length, and swimming so buoyant upon the water, that the wind, when close haul'd, throws her to leeward: We have been seventeen days going seven or eight leagues to windward, which must make our passage very long and uncomfortable.
Friday the 4th, little wind at S. and fair. This morning rowed out, at ten got down, where we saw a smoke, but no people; we saw a dog running along shore, and keeping company with the boat for above a mile; we then put in, with a design, to shoot him, but he soon disappointed us, by taking into the woods. We put off again with a fine breeze, steering N.W. by W. down the Streights. The carpenter gave a guinea this day for a pound of flour, which he made into cakes, and eat instantly. At six in the evening abreast of Cape Munday; at eight abreast of Cape Upright, being fair weather. Intend to keep under sail all night.
Saturday the 5th, little wind and fair: At four this morning I saw Cape Pillar, bearing W. by N. distant eight leagues; saw a smoke on the south shore, and at noon we saw a smoke on the north shore, but we did not care to lose time: At three o'clock saw Cape Desseada, bearing from Cape Pillar S.W. distant four leagues, at four o'clock wore the boat, and steered E.S.E. The lieutenant was now fully convinced we have been all along in the right Streights, and had we run but one league further, on Monday, Nov. 17, we had escaped all this trouble and anxiety: As for my own part, I was very well assured, from the first entrance, that we were right, but the lieutenant would not believe that it was Cape Pillar on the S. shore coming into the Streights, but thought we were in a lagoon to the northward; so that we have been above a fortnight coming back to rectify mistakes, and to look at Cape Pillar a second time: At eight o'clock came abreast of the smoke seen in the morning. The people being well assured that we are actually in the Streights of Magellan, are all alive. Wind at W.S.W.
Sunday, little wind at W. with rain; at three this morning abreast of Cape Munday; at six abreast of Cape de Quod, opposite to which, on the south shore, saw a smoke, on which we went ashore to the Indians, who came out on a point of land, at the entrance of a cove, hollowing and crying, Bona! Bona! endeavouring to make us understand they were our friends; when ashore, we traded with them for two dogs, three brant geese, and some seal, which supply was very acceptable to us; we supped on the dogs, and thought them equal in goodness to the best mutton in England. We took from the Indians a canoe, made of the bark of trees, but soon towed her under water, and were obliged to cut her loose; steered N.E. by E. At eight o'clock abreast of St Jerom's Sound; at twelve abreast of Royal Island.
The Indians we saw in the Streights of Magellan are people of a middle stature, and well shaped, their complexion of a tawny olive colour, their hair exceeding black, but not very long, they have round faces and small noses, their eyes little and black, their teeth are smooth and even, and close set, of an incomparable whiteness, they are very active in body, and run with a surprising agility, they wear on their heads white feathered caps, their bodies are covered with the skins of seals and guinacoes. The women, as soon as they saw us, fled into the woods, so that we can give no description of them.
Monday the 7th, fresh gales at W.N.W. and fine weather; at six this morning abreast of Cape Forward, steered N. by E. At nine abreast of Port Famine, at twelve at noon put in at Freshwater bay, and filled one cask of water, having none aboard; at one o'clock put out again, steered N. by E. expecting plenty of wood and water at Elizabeth's Island; at nine at night passed by Sandy Point, it bore S.S.E. and the island St George E.N.E. distant three leagues.
Tuesday the 8th, at four this morning, being calm, weighed, and rowed towards Elizabeth's Island, it bearing W.N.W. At four in the afternoon anchored off the northmost in eight fathom water, fine sand, about half a cable's length from the shore put the vessel in, and landed some people to see for wood and water. In the evening the people came aboard, having been all over the island in search of wood and water, but found none; here indeed we found shaggs and sea-gulls in great numbers, it being breeding time, we got a vast quantity of their eggs, most of them having young ones in the shell: However, we beat them up all together, with a little flour, and made a very rich pudding. Elizabeth's Island is a beautiful spot of ground to appearance, with very good pasture, but it is entirely barren of any thing for the support of man. This day John Turner, marine, perished for want of food.
Wednesday the 9th, at four this morning weighed, and steered E.N.E. for the Narrows, with the wind at S.S.W., when abreast ef the Sweepstakes Foreland, steered S.S.E. on purpose to look for water; after going along shore about six leagues into a deep bay, we saw a fine delightful country: Here we saw the guianacoes in great numbers, ten or twelve in a drove; they are to be seen in such droves all along the shore for several leagues.
The guianacoe is as large as any English deer, with a long neck, his head, mouth, and ears resembling a sheep; he has very long slender legs, and is cloven-footed like a deer, with a short bushy tail of a reddish colour; his back is covered with red wool, pretty long; but down his sides, and all the belly part, is white wool: Those guianacoes, though at a distance very much resembling the female deer, are probably the sheep of this country; they are exceeding nimble, of an exquisite quick sight, very shy, and difficult to be shot: At noon, finding neither wood nor water, wore to the northward, at three got abreast of the Foreland, hauled in for Fish Cove, which lieth just round the eastern point; here we expected to land and shoot some of the guianacoes, but when abreast of the Cove, the wind blew so hard right out, that we were obliged to bear away for the first Narrow, it being impossible to get in. At eight this evening entered the first Narrow, meeting the flood, which runs here very strong; at twelve came to an anchor in five fathom, about a mile off shore. The tide floweth on the western shore seven hours, and ebbs five. This day Robert Vicars, marine, perished with want.
Thursday the 10th, at four this morning weighed, and came to sail; at six got out of the first Narrow, hauled in for a deep bay on the north shore to seek for water: The boatswain swam ashore, and in half an hour afterwards came down on the beach, and brought us the news of finding fresh water. It being rocky ground and ebbing water, the vessel struck; we were obliged in this exigence to slip the cable, time not permitting us to haul up the anchor, we stood off, and on the shore till half flood, then went in and took the cable on board: After landing some people with casks to fill, hauled the anchor up, and went about two miles farther out.