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

204 CONFLAGRATION DREAM. Jan. Persons who have witnessed a forest bvirning on the side of a mountain, will easily perceive how, when seen from a distance, it may resemble the eruption of a volcano ; but to those who have not seen fire on such a scale, I may remark that each gust of wind, or temporary calm ; each thick wood, or comparatively barren space ; augments or deadens the flames so suddenly, as the fire sweeps along the mountain side, that, at a distance of fifty miles or more, the deception may be complete. 22d. Favoured by beautiful weather, we passed along a tract of country where no natives were seen. Jemmy told us it was " land between bad people and his friends;" (neutral-ground probably). This evening we reached a cove near the Murray Narrow; and from a small party of Tekeenica natives. Jemmy's friends, whom we found there, he heard of his mother and brothers, but found that his father was dead. Poor Jemmy looked very grave and mysterious at the news, but showed no other symptom of sorrow. He reminded Bennett* of the dream (related in the previous chapter), and then went for some green branches, which he burned, watching them with a solemn look : after which he talked and laughed as usual, never once, of his own accord, recurring to the subject of his father''s decease. The language of this small party, who were the first of Jemmy's own tribe whom we met, seemed softer and less guttural than those of the " bad men" whom we had passed near the clay cliffs ; and the people themselves seemed much better disposed, though as abject and degraded in outward appearance as any Fuegians I had ever seen. There were three men and two women : when first we were seen they all ran away, but upon two of our party landing and advancing quietly, the men returned and were soon at their ease. Jemmy and York then tried to speak to them ; but to our surprise, and much to my sorrow, we found that Jemmy had almost forgotten his native language, and that, of the two, York, although belonging to another tribe, was rather the best interpreter. In a few minutes the natives comprehended that we should do them no hai-m ; and they then called back their women, who were hiding in the • My coxswain.