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

June. REFLECTIONS FUEGIANS ON BOARD. 459 bringing them back to Tierra del Fuego. These ideas were confirmed by finding that the tribes of Fuegians, eastward of Christmas Sound, were hostile to York Minster''s tribe, and that therefore we could not, in common humanity, land them in Nassau Bay or near the Strait of Le Maire. Neither could I put the boy ashore again, when once to the eastward of Nassau Bay, without risking his life ; hence I had only the alternative of beating to the westward, to land them in their own districts, which circumstances rendered impracticable, or that of taking them to England. In adopting the latter course I incurred a deep responsibility, but was fully aware of what I was undertaking. " The Fuegians were much slower in learning English than I expected from their quickness in mimickry, but they under- stood clearly Avhen we left the coast that they would return to their country at a future time, with iron, tools, clothes, and knowledge which they might spread among their countrymen. They helped the crew whenever required ; were extremely trac- table and good-humoured, even taking pains to walk properly, and get over the crouching posture of their countrymen. " When we were at anchor in Good Success Bay, they went ashore with me more than once, and occasionally took an oar in the boat, without appearing to harbour a thought of escape. " During the night of the 13th, we were near the land about Sea Bear Bay; the wind, however, drew to the northward, and with a strong current setting to the S.E., di'ove us off again. " The 14th was foggy ; clouds preventing any observations, but at three in the afternoon we made the land, a little north of Port Desire, near what is called in the chart ' Rivers Peak.' The wind having hauled to the soutliward, and the current setting northward, prevented our approaching nearer to the port on that day. " At daylight on the 15th, we were again off Rivers Peak, notwithstanding our having carried a press of sail in order to make southing during the night. We were set twenty miles to the northward during that time; but a slant of wind and