f
i r
over repeatedly, although Jemmy had done his best to explain
its object and prevent people from walking there. AA’hen
questioned about it, he looked very sorrowful, and, with a slow
shake of the head, said, “ My people very bad ; great fool ;
know nothing at all ; very great fool.” It was soon decided
that Matthews should not remain. I considered that he had
already undergone a severe trial, and ought not to be again
exposed to such savages, hoivever willing he might be to try
them farther if I thought it right. The next difficulty was how
to get Matthews’ chest and the remainder of his property safely
into our boats, in the face of a hundred Fuegians, who would of
course understand our object, and be much more than a match
for us on land ; but the less hesitation shown, the less time
they would have to think of what we were about ; so, dividing
our party, and spreading about a little to create confidence—at a
favourable moment the wigwam was quickly cleared, the cave
emptied, and the contents safely placed in our hoats. As I
stood watching the proceedings, a few anxious moments passed,
for any kind of skirmish would have been so detrimental to
the three who were still to remain. AVhen the last man was
embarked, I distributed several useful articles, such as axes,
saws, gimblets, knives and nails, among the natives, then
bade Jemmy and York fai-ewell, promising to see them again
in a few days, and departed from the wondering throng assembled
on the beach.
AVhen fairly out of sight of AVoollÿa, sailing with a fair
wind towards the Beagle, Matthews must have felt almost like
a man reprieved, excepting that he enjoyed the feelings always
sure to reward those who try to do their duty, in addition to
those excited by a sudden certainty of his life being out of
jeopardy. AVe slept that night in a cove under AVebley Head ;
sailed early the following morning (7th) along the north side
of Nassau Bay, and about an hour after dark reached the
Beagle—^found all well, the surveying work about Goree Road
done, the ship refitted, and quite ready for her next trip.
A day or two was required for observations and arrangements,
after which (10th) we beat to windward across Nassau
Bay, and on the 11th anchored in Scotchwell Bay. A rough
night was passed under sail between AVollaston and Navarin
Islands, in which we pretty well proved the clearness of that
passage, as it blew fresh and we made a great many boards.
Next day I set out to examine the western part of Ponsonby
Sound and revisit AVoollya. In my absence one party was to
go westward, overland, to look at the outer coast between
False Cape and Cape AVeddell, and another was to examine
and make a plan of the bay or harbour in which the Beagle
lay. In 1830, Mr. Stokes had laid down its shores with
accuracy on a small scale, but there was not then time to take
many soundings; and as I conceived that Orange Bay and
this harbour were likely to be useful ports, it was worth
making a particular plan of each.
12th. AVith one boat I crossed Tekeenica Sound, and explored
the western part of Ponsonby Sound. Natives were seen
here and there, but we had Httle intercourse with them. Some
curious effects of volcanic action were obsevred, besides masses
of conglomerate, such as I had not noticed in any other part
of Tierra del Fuego. On one islet I was placed in an awkward
predicament for half an hour ; it was a very steep, precipitous
hill, which I had ascended by climbing or creeping through
ravines and among trees ; but, wishing to return to the boat’s
crew, after taking a few angles and bearings from its summit,
I could find no place by which it appeared possible to
descend. The ravine up which I crawled was hidden by
wood, and night was at hand. I went to and fro, like a dog
on a wall, unable to descend, till one of the boat’s crew who
was wandering about heard me call, and, ascending at the
only accessible place, showed me where to plunge into the
wood with a prospect of emerging again in a proper direction.
This night we had dry beautiful weather, the leaves and sticks
on the ground crackhng under our feet as we walked, while
at the ship, only sixty miles distant, rain poured down incessantly.
The night of the 13th was passed on Button Island. This
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