CKA?. x] SETTLEMENT AT WOOLLYA. l6\ 



the stentorian voice of one of his brothers at a prodigious distance 

 The meeting was less interesting than that between a horse, turned out 

 into a field, when he joins an old companion. There was no demon- 

 stration of affection ; they simply stared for a short time at each other ; 

 and the mother immediately went to look after her canoe. We heard, 

 however, through York, that them other had been inconsolable for the 

 loss of Jemmy, and had searched everywhere for him, thinking that he 

 might have been left after having been taken in the boat. The women 

 took much notice of, and were very kind to, Fuegia. We had already 

 perceived that Jemmy had almost forgotten his own language. I should 

 think there was scarcely another human being with so small a stock of 

 language, for his English was very imperfect. It was laughable, but 

 almost pitiable, to hear him speak to his wild brother in English, and 

 then ask him in Spanish (" no sabe ? ") whether he did not understand 

 him. 



Everything went on peaceably during the three next days, whilst the 

 gardens were digging and wigwams building. We estimated the 

 number of natives at about one hundred and twenty. The women 

 worked hard, whilst the men lounged about all day long, watching us. 

 They asked for everything they saw, and stole what they could. They 

 were delighted at our dancing and singing, and were particularly inter- 

 ested at seeing us wash in a neighbouring brook; they did not pay 

 much attention to anything else, not even to our boats. Of all the 

 things which York saw, during his absence from his country, nothing 

 seems more to have astonished him than an ostrich near Maldonado ; 

 breathless with astonishment he came running to Mr. Bynoe, with 

 whom he was out walking " Oh, Mr. Bynoe, oh, bird all same horse ! " 

 Much as our white skins surprised the natives, by Mr. Low's account a 

 negro-cook to a sealing vessel, did so more effectually ; and the poor 

 fellow was so mobbed and shouted at that he would never go on shore 

 again. Everything went on so quietly, that some of the officers and 

 myself took long walks in the surrounding hills and woods. Suddenly, 

 however, on the 27th, every woman and child disappeared. We were 

 all uneasy at this, as neither York nor Jemmy could make out the 

 cause. It was thought by some that they had been frightened by our 

 cleaning and firing off our muskets on the previous evening ; by others, 

 that it was owing to offence taken by an old savage, who, when told 

 to keep further off, had coolly spit in the sentry's face, and had then, 

 by gestures acted over a sleeping Fuegian, plainly showed, as it was 

 said, that he should like to cut up and eat our man. Captain Fitz Roy, 

 to avoid the chance of an encounter, which would have been fatal to 

 so many of the Fuegians, thought it advisable for us to sleep at a cove 

 a few miles distant. Matthews, with his usual quiet fortitude (remark- 

 able in a man apparently possessing little energy of character), 

 determined to stay with the Fuegians, who evinced no alarm for 

 themselves ; and so we left them to pass their first awful night. 



On our return in the morning (28th) we were delighted to find all 

 quiet, and the men employed in their canoes spearing fish. Captain 

 Fitz Roy determined to send the yawl and one whale-boat back to the 



