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natives, every one of whom had decamped at this time, gave a
good opportunity for landing the larger tools belonging to
Matthews and our Fuegians, and placing them within or
beneath his wigwam, unseen by any one except ourselves ; and
at dusk, all that we could do for them being completed, we
left the place and sailed some miles to the southward.
During the four days in which we had so many natives about
us, of course some thefts were committed, but nothing of
consequence was stolen. I saw one man talking to Jemmy
Button, while another picked his pocket of a knife, and even
the wary York lost something, but from Fuegia they did not
take a single article; on the contrary, their kindness to her
was remarkable, and among the women she was quite a pet.
Our people lost a few trifles, in consequence of their own
cai-elessness. Had they themselves been left among gold and
diamonds, would they all have refrained from indulging their
acquisitive inclinations ?
Notwithstanding the decision into which I had reasoned
myself respecting the natives, I could not help being exceedingly
anxious about Matthews, and early next morning our
boats were again steered towards Woollya. My own anxiety
was increased by hearing the remarks made from time to time
by the rest of the party, some of whom thought we should not
again see him alive; and it was with no slight joy that I
caught sight of him, as my boat rounded a point of land, carrying
a kettle to the fire near his wigwam. We landed and
ascertained that nothing had occurred to damp his spirits, or
in any way check his inclination to make a fair trial. Some
natives had returned to the place, among them one of Jemmy’s
brothers ; but so far were they from showing the slightest ill-
will, that nothing could be more friendly than their behaviour.
Jemmy told us that these people, who arrived at daylight
that morning were his friends, that his own family would come
in -the course of the day, and that the ‘ bad men,’ the strangers,
were all gone away to their own country.
A further trial was now determined upon. The yawl, witli
one whale-boat, was sent hack to the Beagle, and I set out on
a westward excursion, accompanied by Messrs. Darwin and
Hamond, in the other two boats : my intention being to complete
the exploration of AAhale-boat Sound, and the north-west
arm of the Beagle Channel; then revisit Woollya, either leave
or remove Matthews, as might appear advisable, and repair to
our ship in Goree Road. With a fair and fresh wind my boat
and Mr. Hamond’s passed the Murray Narrow, and sailed far
along the channel towards the west, favoured, unusually, by
au easterly breeze. Just as we had landed, and set up our tent
for the night, some canoes were seen approaching; so rather
than be obliged to watch their movements all night, we at once
embarked our tent and half-cooked supper, and pulled along
the shore some miles further, knowing that they would not
willingly follow us in the dark. About midnight we landed
and slept undisturbed. Next day we made little progress,
the wind having changed, and landed, earlier than usual,
on the north side of the channel, at Shingle Point. Some
natives soon appeared, and though few in number, were inclined
to give trouble. I t was evident they did not knov/
the effect of fire-arms ; for if a musket were pointed at them,
and threatening gestures used, they only made faces at us, and
mocked whatever we did. Finding them more and more insolent
and troublesome, I preferred leaving them to risking a
struggle, in which it might become necessary to fire, at the
hazard of destroying life. Twelve armed men, therefore,
gave way to six unarmed, naked savages, and went on to another
cove, where these annoying, because ignorant natives
could not see us.
On the 29th we reached Devil Island, and found the large
wigwam still standing, which in 1830 my boat’s crew called
the ‘ Parliament House.’ Never, in any part of Tierra del
Fuego, have I noticed the remains of a wigwam which seemed
to have been burned or pulled down; probably there is some
feeling on the subject, and in consequence the natives allow
them to decay naturally, but never wilfully destroy them. We
enjoyed a grand view of the lofty mountain, now called Darwin,
with its immense glaciers extending far and wide. AVliether
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