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

416 BOAT MEMORY — PETREL. March 1830. but a few people on board, their idea of the power of Euro- peans is very poor, and tlieir dread of fire arms not nearly so great as might be imagined. " From this cove we returned to the Beagle. My Fuegian captive, whom I named ' Boat Memory,' seemed frightened, but not low-spirited ; he eat enormously, and soon fell fast asleep. The meeting between him and York Minster was very tame, for, at first, they would not appear to recognise or speak to each other. ' Boat' Avas the best-featured Fuegian I had seen, and being young and well made, was a very favourable specimen of the race : ' York' was one of the stoutest men I had observed among them ; but little Fuegia was almost as broad as she was high : she seemed to be so merry and happy, that I do not think slie would willingly have quitted us. Three natives of Tierra del Fuego, better suited for the purpose of instruc- tion, and for giving, as well as receiving information, could not, I think, have been found. " 10th. This morning, having been well cleaned and dressed, ' Boat' appeared contented and easy ; and being together, kept York and him in better spirits than they would probably other- wise have been, for they laughed, and tried to talk, by imi- tating whatever was said. Fuegia soon began to learn English, and to say several things very well. She laughed and talked with her countrymen incessantly. " 12th. Some evenings, at dusk, I observed large flights of birds, of the petrel kind, skimming over the sea (like swallows), as if in chase of insects. These birds were black, about the size of a ' Cape Pigeon.' We tried to shoot one, but did not suc- ceed."