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

SURVEYING VOYAGES OP THE BEAGLE. 1831—1836. #. CHAPTER I. Explanation — Natives of Tierra del Fuego, or Fuegians — Passages across the Equator (Atlantic)— Letters— Small-pox — Hospital — Boat Me- mory — Fuegians in London — At Waltharastow — At St. James's Beagle recommissioned— Correspondence with Mr. Wilson — Fuegians re-embark. As the following narrative of the Beagle's second voyage to South America is a sequel to the " Surveying Voyages of the Adventure and the Beagle," which are related in the preceding volume, it may be advisable that this chapter should contain a sketch of some few incidents intimately connected with the origin and plan of the second Expedition. Captain King has already mentioned that the two ships under his orders sailed from Rio de Janeiro, on their home- ward passage, early in August 1830. During the time which elapsed before we reached England, I had time to see much of my Fuegian companions ; and daUy became more interested about them as I attained a further acquaintance with their abilities and natural inclinations. Far, VOL. II. B