Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

180 SUPERSTITIONS. Matthews were occasioned by similar feelings, or by those of a devotional nature, I cannot pretend to say. The natives whom I carried to England often amused us by their superstitious ideas, which showed, nevertheless, that their ideas were not limited by the visible world. If any thing was said or done that was wrong, in their opinion it was certain to cause bad weather. Even shooting young birds, before they were able to fly, was thought a heinous offence. I remember York Minster saying one day to Mr. Bynoe, Avhen he had shot some young ducks with the old bird — ' Oh, Mr. Bynoe, very bad to shoot little duck — come wind — come rain — blow — very much blow." A great black man is supposed to be always wandering about the woods and mountains, who is certain of knowing every word and every action ; who cannot be escaped, and who influences the weather accordino; to men's conduct. York related a curi- ous story of his own brother, who had committed a murder. " In woods of my country," said he, " some men go about alone ; very wild men — have no belly (meaning probably that they were very thin), live by stealing from other men." He then went on to say, that his brother had been getting birds out of a cliffy, and, on coming down, hid them among some long rushes, and went away. Soon afterwards he returned, and, see- ing feathers blown away by the wind from the spot, suspected what was going on ; so taking a large stone in his hand, he crept stealthily towards the place, and there saw one of these wild men plucking a bird which he had got out of the cliff*. Without saying a word, he dashed the stone at the wild man's head, and killed him on the spot. Afterwards York's bro- ther was very sorry for what he had done, particularly when it began to blow very hard. York said, in telling the story, " rain come down — snow come down — hail come down — wind blow — blow — very much blow. Very bad to kill man. Big man in woods no like it, he very angry." At the word ' blow,' York imitated the sound of a strong wind ; and he told the whole story in a very low tone of voice, and with a mysterious manner; considering it an extremely serious affair.