letter FUEGIANS.
- Afterwards, when in Nassau Bay, our captives informed
us that the natives of that part of the coast, and al to the
eastward, were their enemies, and that they spoke a differen
lan-Tuage. This intelligence was extremely disappointing, and
male me anxious to persuade one of this eastern tribe to come
on hoard and stay with u s ; bu t I had then no hopes of doing
so, and gave up the idea: however, some tune afterwaids,
accidentally meeting three canoes, when avay m my oa
ploringthe Beagle Channel, I prevailed on their occupan s to
pu t one of the party, a stout hoy, into my boat, ^ d retu
1 gave them beads, buttons, and other trifles. Whether they
intended that he should remain with ns permanently, I do not
know; hu t they seemed contented with the
and paddled again towards the cove f™“
approached my boat. We pulled on along
o S l r canoes, which had been endeavouring to b a r to with us
: h : e : : r we stopped; l u t at dusk they ceased following, us
and went ashore. . « rlpnided
« When about to depart from the Fuegian coaBt, I decided
to keep these four natives on board, for they
unite cheerful and contented with their situation; and I thought
diat many good effects might be the consequence of their living
a I m t t i i in England. They have lived, and have been
clothed like the seamen, and are now, and have been always
r " i a a. large a .lock as I can collect ot tho.e .n.oles most
„ S a l to them, and most likely to improve rite »„d.t.on rf
their countrymen, who are no* scarcely supenor to
creation. ^
“ I h a v e , CSC.
» Phillip Parker King, Esq. R o- . t ,
Commander H.M.S. Adventare, Commander.
Senior officer of the Expedition.”
This letter was forwarded to the Admiralty by Captain
King, as soon as he arrived in England ; and a few days afterwards
the following answer was received.
“ Sir, Admiralty Office, 19th Oct. 1830.
“ Having laid before my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty
your letter and its enclosure from Commander Fitz-B.oy,
of the Beagle, relative to the four Indians whom he has
brought from Tierra del Fuego under the circumstances
therein stated; I am commanded to acquaint you that their
Lordships will not interfere with Commander Fitz-JRoy’s personal
superintendence of, or benevolent intentions towards
these four people, hut they will afford him any facilities
towards maintaining and educating them in England, and will
give them a passage home again.
“ I am, &c.
■“ To Commander King, (Signed) J o h n B a r r o w .”
H.M.S.V. Adventure.”
I was, of course, anxious to protect the Fuegians, as far as
possible, from the contagion of any of tliose disorders, sometimes
prevalent, and which unhappily have so often proved
fatal to the aboriginal natives of distant countries when brought
to E u ro p e ; and, immediately after our arrival in England,
they landed with me, after dark, and were taken to comfortable,
airy lodgings, where, next day, they were vaccinated, for
the second time.
Two days afterwards they were carried a few miles into
the country, to a quiet farm-house, where I hoped they would
enjoy more freedom and fresh air, and, a t the same time,
incur less risk of contagion than in a populous sea-port town,
where curiosity would be excited.
Meanwhile, the Beagle was stripped and cleared o u t; and
the Adventure went to Woolwich for a similar purpose, preparatory
to being paid off. On the 27th of October, the Beagle’s
pendant was hauled down ; and on the 15th of November, the
Adventure vvas put out of commission.