i833-] FUEGIANS. 21$ 



jacket would disfigure an angel. Believe me, my dear Wat 

 kins, with the warmest feelings of friendship, 



Ever yours, 



CHARLES DARWIN. 



C. Darwin to f. S. Henslow. 



April II, 1833. 



MY DEAR HENSLOW, 



We are now running up from the Falkland Islands to the 

 Rio Negro (or Colorado). The Beagle will proceed to Monte 

 Video ; but if it can be managed I intend staying at the 

 former place. It is now some months since we have been at 

 a civilised port ; nearly all this time has been spent in the 

 most southern part of Tierra del Fuego. It is a detestable 

 place ; gales succeed gales with such short intervals that it is 

 difficult to do anything. We were twenty-three days off 

 Cape Horn, and could by no means get to the westward. 

 The last and final gale before we gave up the attempt was 

 unusually severe. A sea stove one of the boats, and there 

 was so much water on the decks that every place was afloat ; 

 nearly all the paper for drying plants is spoiled, and half of 

 this curious collection. 



We at last ran into harbour, and in the boats got to the 

 west by the inland channels. As I was one of this party I 

 was very glad of it. With two boats we went about 300 

 miles, and thus I had an excellent opportunity of geologising 

 and seeing much of the savages, The Fuegians are in a more 

 miserable state of barbarism than I had expected ever to 

 have seen a human being. In this inclement country they 

 are absolutely naked, and their temporary houses are like 

 what children make in summer with boughs of trees. I do 

 not think any spectacle can be more interesting than the first 

 sight of man in his primitive wildness. It is an interest 

 which cannot well be imagined until it is experienced. I 

 shall never forget this when entering Good Success Bay 

 15 



