Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.1): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

Feb. 1827. FUEGiAN natives. 77 hands on the dog, at which the woman set up a dismal yell so bidding him desist, I increased my offers. She declined to part with it, but would give two others. At last, my offers became so considerable, that she called a little boy out of the thick jungle (into which he had fled at our approach), who was the owner of the dog. The goods were shown to him, and all his party urged him to sell it, but the little urchin would not consent He offered to let me have his necklace, and what he received in exchange was put away in his own little basket. " These people never evinced any thankfulness for our pre- sents. Whatever was offered they ' clutched at,' doubtful of getting it, although held out to them ; and when in their own hand, it was instantly stowed away, as if they feared it would be recalled. " I sometimes tried to discover whether they preferred any particular colour, and for that purpose held out three strings of beads, black, white, and red ; they clutched at all three, in their usual manner, without showing any preference. " Their pronunciation is exceedingly harsh and guttural not more than two words, whose signification was at all ascer- tained, could be made out, ' sherroo,' a ship, boat, or canoe, and ' peteet," a child. They have a wonderful aptitude for imitating the sounds of strange languages : let a sentence, of even a dozen words, be distinctly pronounced, and they will repeat it with the utmost precision. " Their only articles of traffic, besides such implements and weapons as they use, are seal and otter skins ; and I should say that the quantity of peltry to be procured from them would be insignificant towards completing the cargo of a sealing vessel." During the next few days the Beagle was employed in the most exposed, the least known, and the most dangerous part of the Strait. Fortunately, she was favoured by weather, and effected her purpose without injury or loss ; but I never reflect upon this piece of service without an inward tribute of admira- tion to the daring, skill, and seamanship of Captain Stokes, Lieutenant Skyring, and Mr. Flinn.