218 TIERRA DEL FUEGO. [chap. x. 



Tierra del Fuego in an east and vest line, and in the middle U 

 joined at right angles on the scutli side by an irregular channel, 

 Avhicli has been called Ponsonby Sound. This is the residence 

 of Jemmy Button's tribe and family. 



I9th. — Three whale-boats and the yawl, with a party of 

 tv/enty- eight, started under the command of Captain Fitz Koy. 

 In the afternoon we entered the eastern mouth of the channel, 

 and shortly afterwards found a snug little cove concealed by 

 some surrounding islets. Here we pitched our tents and lighted 

 our fires. Kothin": could look more comfortable than this scene. 

 The glassy water of the little harbour, witii the. branches of the 

 trees hanging over the rocky beach, the boats at anchor, tiie 

 tents supported by the crossed oars, and the smoke curling up 

 the Mooded valley, formed a picture of quiet retirement. The 

 next day (20th) we smoothly glided onwards in our little fleet, 

 and came to a more inhabited district. Few if any of these 

 natives could ever have seen a white man ; certainly nothing 

 could exceed their astonishment at the apparition of the four 

 boats. Fires were lighted on every point (hence the name of 

 Tierra del Fuego, or the land of fire), both to attract our atten- 

 tion and to spread far and \\ide the news. Some of the men ran 

 for miles along the shore. I shall ntn'er forget how wild and 

 savage one group appeared : suddenly four or five men came to 

 the e(h^e of an overhanging cliff; they M'ere absolutely naked, 

 and their long hair streamed about their faces ; they held rugged 

 staffs in their hands, and, springing from the ground, they waved 

 their arms round their heads, and sent forth the most hideous 

 yells. 



At dinner-time we landed among a party of Fuegians. At 

 first they were not inclined to be friendly ; for until the Captain 

 pulled in a-head of the other boats, they kept their slings in their 

 hands. We soon, however, delighted them by trifling presents, 

 such as tying red tape round their heads. They liked our bis- 

 cuit : but one of the savages touched with his finger some of the 

 meat ])reserved in tin cases which I was eating, and feeling it soft 

 and cold, showed as much disgust at it, as I should have dono 

 at putrid blubber. Jemmv was thorounrhlv ashamed of his 

 countrymen, and declared his own tribe were quite different, in 

 which he was wofully mistaken. It was as easy to please as if 



