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

1833. WASHING DOCTOR. 211 and when she was dressed, Jemmy brought her to see me. His brothers speedily became rich in old clothes, nails and tools, and the eldest were soon known among the seamen as Tommy Button and Harry Button, but the younger ones usually staid at their wigwams, which were about a quarter of a mile distant. So quietly did affairs proceed, that the following day (25th) a few of our people went on the hills in search of guanacoes many were seen, but they were too wild to approach. An old man arrived, who was said to be Jemmy's uncle, his father's bro- ther ; and many strangers came, who seemed to belong to the Yapoo Tekeenica tribe. Jemmy did not like their visit ; he said they were bad people, ' no friends.' 26th. While some of my party were washing in a stream, stripped to the waist, several natives collected round, and were much amused at the white skins, as well as at the act of washing, so new probably to them. One of them ran to the nearest wigwams, and a troop of curious gazers collected, whose hands, however, were soon so actively employed in abstracting the handkerchiefs, shoes, &c., which had been laid on the bank, that a stop was put to the ablutions. We discovered that Jemmy's eldest brother was a ' doctor,' and though young for his occupation of conjuring and pre- tending to cure illness, he was held in high estimation among his own tribe. I never could distinctly ascertain whether the eldest man, or the doctor of a tribe had the most influence; but from what little I could learn, it appeared to me that the elder of a family or tribe had a sort of executive authority, while the doctor gave advice, not only in domestic affairs, but with respect to most transactions. In all savage nations, I believe there is a person of this description — a pretended prophet conjuror — and, to a certain degree, — doctor. This evening our party were employed for a short time in firing at a mark, with the three-fold object of keeping our arms in order — exercising the men — and aw eing, without frightening, the natives. While this was going on, the Fuegians sat about on their hams, watching our proceedings, and often eagerly talk- ing to each other, as successful shots were made at the target, p 2