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

APPENDIX. 129 him to his questions, or that he suspected some misconduct on their side ; for, presently after, breaking out into savage fury, he took the young one up in his arms, and threw her with violence against the stones ; but his brutal resentment did not stop here, he beat her afterwards in a cruel manner. I could not see this treatment of my benefactress vnthout the highest concern for her, and rage against the author of it ; especially as the natural jealousy of these people gave occasion to think that it was on my account she suiFered. I could hardly suppress the first emotions of my resentment, which prompted me to return him his barbarity in his own kind ; but, besides that this might have drawn upon her fresh marks of his severity, it was neither poHtic, nor, indeed, in my power, to have done it to any good purpose at this time." " Our imtoward circumstances now found some relief in the arrival of the Indians we waited for ; who brought with them some seal, a small portion of which feU to our share. A night or two Eifter they sent out some of their young men, who procured us a quantity of a very dehcate kind of birds, called shags and cormorants. Their manner of taking these birds resembles something a sport called ' Bat-fowling.' They find out their haunts among the rocks and cliffs in the night, when, taking with them torches made of the bark of the birch tree, which is common here, and grows to a very large size (this bark has a very unctuous quality, and emits a bright and clear hght, and in the northern parts of America is used frequently instead of candle), they bring the boat's side as near as possible to the rocks, under the roosting places of these birds ; then, waving their Hghts backwards and forwards, the birds are dazzled and con- founded so as to fall into the canoe, where they are instantly Imocked on the head with a short stick the Indians take with them for that purpose. Seals are taken in some less frequented parts of these coasts with great ease ; but when their haunts have been two or three times disturbed, they soon learn to provide for their safety, by repairing to the water upon the first alarm. This is the case with them hereabouts ; but as they frequently raise their heads above water, either to breathe or look about them, I have seen an Indian at this interval throw his lance with such dexterity as to strike the animal through both its eyes at a great distance ; and it is very seldom that they miss their aim."