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which was intentionally placed so that they could see the effect
of the balls. At sunset they went away as usual, hut looking
very grave, and talking eai-nestly. Ahout an hour after dark,
the sentry saw something moving along the ground near our
tents, within the boundary line, which he thought was a
wild animal, and had just levelled his musket to fire at it,
when he discovered it was a man, who instantly darted off, and
was lost in the darkness. Some native had doubtless stolen to
the tents, to see what we were doing ; perhaps with a view to
surprise us, if asleep, perhaps only to steal.
27th. While a few of our party were completing the thatch
of the last wigwam, and others were digging in the garden
which was made, 1 was much surprised to see that all the
natives were preparing to depart; and very soon afterwards
every canoe was set in motion,—not half a dozen natives
remaining. Even Jemmy’s own family, his mother and brothers,
left us ; and as he could give no explanation of this
sudden departure, I was in much doubt as to the cause.
AVhether an attack was meditated, and they were removing
the women and children, previous to a general assembly of the
men, or whether they had been frightened by our display on
the preceding evening, and feared that we intended to attack
them, I could not ascertain; but deeming the latter by far the
most probable, I decided to take the opportunity of their
departure to give Matthews his first trial of passing a night at
the new wigwams.
Some among us thought that the natives intended to make
a secret attack, on account of the great temptation our property
offered ; and in consequence of serious offence which had
been taken bj' two or three old men, who tried to force themselves
into our encampment, while I was at a little distance;
one of whom, when resisted by the sentry, spit in his face ; and
went off in a violent passion, muttering to himself, and every
now and then turning round to make faces and angry gestures
at the man who had very quietly, though firmly, prevented
his encroachment.
In consequence of this incident, and other symjitoms of a
18S3. S T K A N G E 11S— M A T X H E W S. 213
disposition to try their strength, having more than three hundred
men, while we were but thirty, I had thought it advisable,
as I mentioned, to give them some idea of the weapons
we had at command, if obliged to use them, by firing
at a mark. Probably two-thirds of the natives around us at
that time had never seen a gun fired, being strangers, coming
from the Beagle Channel and its neighbourhood, where no vessel
had been ; and although our exercise might have frightened
them more than I wished, so much, indeed, as to have induced
them to leave the place, it is not improbable that, without some
such demonstration, they might have obliged us to fire at them
instead of the target. So many strangers had arrived during
the few days we remained, I mean strangers to Jemmy’s family
—men of the eastern tribe, which he called Yapoo—that his
brothers and mother had no longer any influence over the
majority, who cared for them as little as they did for us, and
were intent only upon plunder. Finding this the case, I conclude
that Jemmy’s friends thought it wise to retreat to a
neighbouring island before any attack commenced ; but why
they did not tell Jemmy their reasons for going, I know not,
neither could he tell me more than that they said they were
going to fish, and would return at night. This, however, they
did not do.
In the evening, Matthews and his party—Jemmj', York,
and Fuegia—went to their abode in the three new wigwams.
In that made for Matthews, Jemmy also took up his quarters
at first: it was high and roomy for such a construction; the
space overhead was divided by a floor of boards, brought from
the ship, and there most of Matthews’ stores were placed; but
the most valuable articles were deposited in a box, which was
hid in the ground underneath the wigwam, where fire could
not reach.
Matthews was steady, and as willing as ever; neither York
nor Jemmy had the slightest doubt of their being all well-
treated; so trusting that Matthews, in his honest intention
to do good, would obtain that assistance in which he confided,
I decided to leave him for a few days. The absence of the
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