ening, and while the captain was at
once taken by Martini to a wigwam, Byron was left outside to shift for
himself as best he could. He was so exhausted that all he could do was
to creep into the shelter of a wigwam, and chance what fate might bring
him.

These wigwams were built of branches of trees placed in a circle, which
are bound at the top by a kind of creeper called supple-jack. The frame
of the wigwam is covered with boughs and bark. The fire is lit in the
very centre, round which the Indians lie. As there is no outlet for the
smoke, it is not a very comfortable place to sleep in.

There were only two Indian women in the wigwam into which John Byron
crept, who were very astonished to see him. However, they were kind to
him and made up a good fire, and presently, when he made them understand
that he was hungry, they gave him some fish to eat. But when he had
finished it he was still so hungry that he made signs for more. Then
they went out into the night, taking their dogs with them, and came back
in an hour or two shivering and with water dripping from their hair.
They had caught two more fish, which after they had cooked slightly they
gave him to eat.

These people live only on what they can take from the sea, and train
their dogs to dive for fish and their women for sea-eggs. While
collecting these the women stay under water a wonderfully long time;
they have really the hardest work to do, as they have to provide food
for their husbands and children. They are not allowed to touch any food
themselves until the husband is satisfied, when he gives them a very
small portion, generally that which he does not care to eat himself.

Martini then told them that they would have to return in the canoe by
which they had come to their companions, and that the Indians they were
leaving would join them in a few days, after which they would all set
out together on the journey northwards. They found Mr. Elliot, the
surgeon, very ill, and Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Campbell were almost
starved, having had only a few sea-eggs to eat since they had left.

About the middle of March they re-embarked with the other Indians, and
soon afterwards Mr. Elliot died. He had been one of the strongest of the
party, and one of the most useful and self-denying, and had never spared
himself in trying to provide food for the others. He was also one of the
best shots of the party.

Most of them were now reduced to rags and without shoes, and whe