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Show 238 TIERRA DEL FUEGO. Jan. 1833. party of twenty-eight, started under the command of Captain FitzRoy. In the afternoon we entered the eastern mouth of the channel, and shortly afterwards found a snug little cove, concealed by some surrounding islets. Here we pitched our tents, and lighted our fires. Nothing could look more comfortable than this scene. The glassy water of the little harbour, with the trees sending their branches over the rocky beach, the boats at anchor, the tents supported by the crossed oars, and the smoke curling up the wooded valley, formed a picture of quiet retirement. The next day (20th) we smoothly glided onwards in our little :fleet, and came to a more inhabited district. Few if any of these natives could ever have seen a white man; certainly nothing could exceed their astonishment at the apparition of the four boats. Fires were lighted on every point (hence the name of the land), both to attract our attention, and to spread far and wide the news. Some of the men ran for miles along the shore. As we passed under one cliff, four or five men suddenly appeared above us, forming the most wild and savage group that can be imagined. They were absolutely naked, with long streaming hair, and with rugged staffs in their hands : springing from the ground they waved their arms around their heads, and sent forth the most hideous yells. At dinner-time we landed among a party of Fuegians. At first they were not inclined to be friendly ; for until the captain pulled in ahead of the other boats, they kept their slings in their hands. We soon, however, delighted them by trifling presents, such as tying red tape round their heads. It was as easy to please, as it was difficult to satisfy these savages. Young and old, men and children, never ceased repeating the word "yammerschooner," which means "give me." After pointing to almost every object, one after the other, even to the buttons on our coats, and saying their favourite word in as many intonations as possible, they would then use it in a neuter sense, and vacantly repeat" yammerschooner." After yammerschoonering for any article very eagerly, they would Jan. 1833. BEAGLE CHANNEL. 239 by a simple artifice point to their young women or little children, ~s much as to say, "If you will not give it me, sure! you will to such as these ?" y At night we endeavoured in vain to find an uninhabited cove;. and at last were '()bliged to bivouac not far from a party of n~tlves. They wer.e very inoffensive as long as they were few m numbers, but m the morning (21st) being joined by others they showed symptoms of hostility. An European labours ~nder great disadvantages, when treating with savages hke these, who have not the least idea of the power of fire-arms. In the very act of levelling his musket, he appears to the savage far inferior to a man armed with a bow and arrow, a sp~ar~ or even a sling. Nor is it easy to teach them our superiOrity except by striking a fatal blow. Like wild beasts they do not appear in all cases to compare numbers ; for each individual if attacked instead of retiring . ' ' Will endeavour to dash your brains out with a stone as certam. l y as a tiger under similar circumstances would t' ear you. Captain FitzRoy on one occasion, being very anxious from good reasons to frighten away a small party, twice fired his pistol close by the side of a native. The man both times looked astounded, and carefully but quickly rubbed his head ; he then stared awhile, and gabbled to his companions; but he never seemed to think of running away. We can hardly put our.selves in the position of these savages, to understand their actions. In the case of the Fuegian, the possibility of such a sound as the report of a gun close to his ear, could never have entered his mind. He perhaps literally did not for a second know whether it was a sound or a blow, and therefore very naturally rubbed his head. In a similar manner, when a savage sees a mark struck by a bullet, it may be some time before he is able at all to understand how it is effected; for the fact of a body being invisible from its velocity, would perhaps be to him an idea totally inconceivable. Moreover, the extreme force of a bullet, that penetrates a hard substance without tearing it, may convince the savage that it has no force at all. Certainly I believe that many savages of the lowest grade, |