268 TIERRA DEL FUEGO. 



object much better than a landsman; but both 

 York and Jemmy were much superior to any sail- 

 or on board : several times they have declared 

 what some distant object has been, and though 

 doubted by every one, they have proved right 

 when it has been examined through a telescope. 

 They were quite conscious of this power ; and 

 Jemmy, when he had any little quaiTel with the offi- 

 cer on watch, would say, " Me see ship, me no tell." 

 It was interesting to watch the conduct of the 

 savages, when we landed, towards Jemmy Button : 

 they immediately perceived the difference between 

 him and ourselves, and held much conversation one 

 with another on the subject. The old man ad- 

 dressed a long harangue to Jemmy, which, it seems, 

 was to invite him to stay with them ; but Jemmy 

 understood very little of their language, and was, 

 moreover, thoroughly ashamed of his countrymen. 

 When York Minster afterwards came on shore, 

 they noticed him in the same way, and told him he 

 ought to shave ; yet he had not twenty dwarf hairs 

 on his face, whilst we all wore our untrimmed 

 beards. They examined the colour of his skin, 

 and compared it with ours. One of our arms being 

 bared, they expressed the liveliest surpi'ise and 

 admiration at its whiteness, just in the same way 

 in which I have seen the ourang-outang do at the 

 Zoological Gardens. We thought that they mis- 

 took two or three of the officers, who were rath- 

 er shorter and fairer, though adorned with large 

 beards, for ladies of our party. The tallest amongst 

 the Fuegians was evidently much pleased at his 

 height being noticed. When placed back to back 

 with the tallest of the boat's crew, he tried his best 

 to edge on higher ground, and to stand on tip- 

 toe. He opened his mouth to show his teeth, and 

 turned his face for a side view ; and all this was 



