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the Yahyan language, and reduced it to writing and its struc- 

 ture had set forth in various grammars. ' 



Many of the people had be(?ome Christians, & had settled 

 down to a life of Ghristian rule, and civilization, cultivating 

 the soil with good results, keeping catlle, making butter, and 

 had even risen to regularly employing liired labor on their 

 farms. Associated with others, I began residence in the coun- 

 try in 1869, & there I liave lived ever since with my family. 

 The prospects of the nativas for some years were most encou- 

 raging, for they had largely improved physically, as well as mo- 

 rally, and at the Mission Station over 30 families had en- 

 closed gardens and among tliem owned, between 70 & 80 head 

 of Cattle, given to the desei'ving among them by the Mission. 

 Also in many places round about, many natives had small 

 cultivations and the liealth of the people was good, and their 

 numbers fast increasing, there being many large families of 

 healthy children, and every indication of progress in every 

 way. The first drawback was through the spread of disease, 

 directly traceable to the visits & improper conduct of Sealers. 

 Scrofula & unclean diseases continued lo develop themselves 

 increasingly, and the people very rapidly decreased, & became 

 disheartened in their works. Finally came measles & other 

 diseases, and in a few weeks swept through the land & took 

 away fuUy two thirds of the survivors. So terrible have been 

 the results that 3000 natives liave dwindled down to less than 

 300. And a like fatality has befel the other tribes comparati- 

 vely unaffected by the Mission agency. 



Besides being helpful in improving the natives, the mission 

 has beeñ directly helpful in saving the lives of shipwrecked 

 mariners, who have found kind treatment by the natives & 

 been conducted by them in safety to the Mission station & 

 other points where they could obtain help. These services have 

 been recognised by various European govei'nments, and medals 

 and recompense awarded to the Mission & the natives. 



One thing is proved incontestably which is that Christia- 

 riity & civilization are good & effectual to raise & bless all 

 races of man equally, and that it is the vices of men that 

 alone tend to their ruin. 



Since 1886 I have been settled with my family in Tierra del 

 Fuego as a colonist amoug the natives, & dependent chiefly 

 upon their labor, and we have done very well, and done an 

 immense amount of profitable labor of many Idnds, and Ave 

 find beyond doubt that a life of regular work & Ghristian prin- 



