CHAPTER XI.

Port Famine--St. Nicholas' Bay, and its inscriptions--Politeness of the Indians declined--Difficulty of navigating the straits--A post-bag in a bottle--An English steamer, and its humane errand--Exertions of the British government to rescue prisoners in Patagonia--American schooner--Celebration of our safe passage through the straits--Juan Fernandez--News from home--A chapter of accidents--A trip to Lima--Almost an adventure--Arrival at San Francisco--Journey to the mines--A happy meeting 204