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. nativks. 55 water had been given her, made no attempt to pilfer. One of the party, who seemed more than half an idiot, spit in my face ; but as it was not apparently done angrily, and he was reproved by his companions, his uncourteous conduct was forgiven. If possessed of any furs, they had left them, perhaps con- cealed, near their wigwams : only a few arrows, a necklace of shells, and a fillet for the head, made of ostrich feathers, were obtained by barter. Their canoes were paddled by the women, occasionally helped by the men. One or two of the former were young, and well-featured, but the rest were hideous ; and all were filthy and most disagreeable, from the quantity of seal- oil and blubber, with which they had covered their bodies. After we had obtained, by barter, all the articles they had to dispose of, I presented them with red caps and medals, of which they were very proud : the latter they requested might have a hole drilled through them, that they might be suspended by a string round their necks. Their astonishment was much excited, and they were pleased by hearing a watch tick ; but I believe I had very nearly, though unintentionally, given great offence, by cutting off a lock of hair, from the head of one of the men. Assuming a grave look, he very carefully wrapped the hair up, and handed it to a woman in the canoe, wlio, as carefully, stowed it away in a basket, in which she kept her beads and paint : the man then turned round, requesting me, very seriously, to put away the scissors, and my compliance restored him to good-humour. The features of these people bore a great resemblance to those of the Patagonian Indians, but in person they were considerably sliorter and smaller. The elderly people of botli sexes had hideous figures ; the children, however, and young men, were well-formed ; particularly one of the boys, whom they called 'Yal-la-ba,'' which, I believe, meant a youth, or a young warrior. The word ' Sherroo' was used to denote a canoe, or vessel. They were ill-clothed, with mantles made of guanaco, or otter skins, but not so neatly as those of tlie Patagonians.