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

222 MATTHEWS RE-EMBARKS. Feb. over repeatedly, although Jemmy had done his best to explain its object and prevent people from walking there. When questioned about it, he looked very sorrowful, and, with a slow shake of the head, said, " My people very bad ; great fool know nothing at all ; very great fool." It was soon decided that Matthews should not remain. I considered that he had already undergone a severe trial, and ought not to be again exposed to such savages, however willing he might be to try them farther if I thought it right. The next difficulty was how to get Matthews' chest and the remainder of his property safely intn our boats, in the face of a hundred Fuegians, who would of coarse understand our object, and be much more than a match for us on land ; but the less hesitation shown, the less time they would have to think of what we were about ; so, dividing our party, and spreading about a little to create confidence — at a favourable moment the wigwam was quickly cleared, the cave emptied, and the contents safely placed in our boats. As I stood watching the proceedings, a few anxious moments passed, for any kind of skirmish would have been so detrimental to the three who were still to remain. When the last man was embarked, I distributed several useful articles, such as axes, saws, gimblets, knives and nails, among the natives, then bade Jemmy and York farewell, promising to see them again in a few days, and departed from the wondering throng assem- bled on the beach. When fairly out of sight of Woollya, sailing with a fair wind towards the Beagle, Matthews must have felt almost like a man reprieved, excepting that he enjoyed the feelings always sure to reward those who try to do their duty, in addition to those excited by a sudden certainty of his life being out of jeopardy. We slept that night in a cove under Webley Head sailed early the following morning (7th) along the north side of Nassau Bay, and about an hour after dark reached the Beagle — found all well, the surveying work about Goree Road done, the ship refitted, and quite ready for her next trip. A day or two was required for observations and arrange- ments, after which (10th) we beat to windward across Nassau