96 ArPENDTX.
God, and He will draw nigh to you." Walk closely with Him, and
his name will be glorified in you. Pursuing this course, you will
be sure of enjoying His blessing, and may cheerfully leave all events
in His hands.
Your first object must be to acquire the language of the Fuegians.
To this you must apply with the utmost dihgence, fully availing
youi-self for tliis purpose of your intercourse with the natives on the
voyage; as, till this point is gained, you can hold no free communicatiou
-nith the tribes on the island. In prosecution of this object,
we recommend you carefully to note down in writing eveiy new
word wliich you hear. These vocabularies you will, at your leisure,
classify and reduce to order, to form the basis of a grammar- and
dictionar}', and ultimately of translations into the language. In
prosecution of this design, it will be requisite that you should
ascertain, if practicable, which dialect is most extensively used in
the island, if it should be found that there are more than one; as it
is obriously desirable that you should fix that which is mOst extensively
used.
In imparting religious instruction to the natives, you will make
the Bible the basis of all your teaching. You must never lose sight
of that great theological principle laid down in the sixth article of
the Church of England:—"That Holy Scripture containeth all
things necessary to salvation ; so that whatsoever is not read therein,
nor may be proved thereby, is not to be required of any man that it
should be believed as an article of the faith, or be thought requisite
or necessary to salvation." By this sound and salutary principle,
let the whole of the rehgious instruction which you impart to the
natives be governed. And we earnestly pray that God may give
you a mouth to speak, and them ears to hear, that they may so
" know the Holy Scriptures that they may be made wise unto salvation
through faith in Christ Jesus."
In your intercourse with the Fuegians, you will bear in mind that
it is the temporal advantages which you may be capable of communicating
to them that they will be most easily and immediately
sensible of. Among these may be reckoned the acquisition of better
dwellings, and better and more plentiful food and clothing. Consequently,
you win consider it a primary duty to instruct them in cultivating
the potato, cabbage, and other vegetables; to rear pigs,
poultry, &c., and to construct a commodious habitation, &c. You
APPENDIX. 97
will probably find in this, as well as in more important things, that
example is the most influential instructor. You must therefore take
care to have a comfortable habitation yourself, furnished with all
necessary articles for use, and kept clean and orderly. You wiU
also fence in a piece of ground for a garden, and get it well stocked
with the most useful vegetables ; and also surround yourself as
quickly as possible with a plentiful supply of pigs, poultry, goats,
&c. This, indeed, you wiU find absolutely necessary for your otati
future subsistence, as well as with a view to the civilization and
comfort of the natives.
Captain Fitz-Roy will, we doubt not, afford you assistance in
selecting a proper spot for your residence, and raising a dweUing
upon i t ; and also in procuring the requisite seeds and animals for
your subsistence, and for the successful prosecution of your work.
A very liberal supply of European clothing, implements and tools,
u-onmongery, earthenware, &c., is included in your outfit.
We trust that these general hints, with the information and assistance
which you may acquire from Captain Fitz-Roy and the books
with which you are supplied, wiU suffice to enable you to carry on
your work with comfort and efficiency.
You win have the kindness to write to Mr. Wflson, with full particulars
of your proceedings and prospects, by every practicable
opportunity, sending your letters to Buenos Ayres, or any other
point where they may be likely to get into a channel to reach
England.
In conclusion, I have only to add that Captain Fitz-Roy has very
kindly and considerately offered to bring you back with him to this
country, should circumstances, contrary to our anticipations, turn
out to be such that you should deem it unadvisable to remain at
Tierra del Fuego.
Earnestly praying that the blessing of God may rest on you and
your important and interesting labours,
I remain, truly yours,
D. COATBS.
No. 6.
Memokandum of Agreement made this eleventh day of September,
one thousand eight hundred and thirty-two, between Mr. James