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

March 1830. captive — strength and bravery. 415 they could land, but so close to the shore that while securing one canoe, the other escaped. From that which we seized a young man and a girl jumped overboard, deserting an old woman and a child, whom we left in order to chase the young man ; but he was so active in the water that it was fully a quarter of an hour before we could get him into our boat. Having at last secured him, we followed the others, but they had all landed and hidden, so we returned across the sound with our captive. In our way a smoke was seen in a cove of Waterman Island, and knowing that it must be made by those who escaped us yesterday, as there were no other natives there, we made sail for it ; but the rogues saw us, and put out their fire. When we reached the spot, however, we found two wigwams just built, and covered with bark ; so that there they had passed the night after their skirmish. I would not let any one land, as the Fuegians might be lurking in the bushes, and might be too much for two or three of us on shore, — ^but left the place. They would tliink us gone for more boats, as at the former meeting, and would shift their quarters immediately ; so by thus harassing them, I hoped to be freed from any more of their visits while we remained in the neigh- bourhood. " The bodily strength of these savages is very great (' York Minster' is as strong as any two of our stoutest men), which, with their agility, both on shore and in the water, and their quickness in attack and defence with stones and sticks, makes them difficult to deal with when out of their canoes. They are a brave, hardy race, and fight to the last struggle ; though in the manner of a wild beast, it must be owned, else they would not, when excited, defy a whole boat's crew, and, single- handed, try to kill the men ; as I have witnessed. That kind- ness towards these beings, and good treatment of them, is as yet useless, I almost think, both from my own experience and from much that I have heard of their conduct to seaUng ves- sels. Until a mutual understanding can be established, moral fear is the only means by which they can be kept peaceable. As they see only vessels which when their boats are away have