1833.] 'J'HE NATIVES DISAPPEAR. 223 



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 

 interested 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. Bvnoe, with whom 

 he was out walking — "Oh, Mr. Bynoe, on, bird all same 

 horse I " 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. Every- 

 thing 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 showeci, 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 milos distant. Matthews, with his usual 

 quiet fortitude (remarkable 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 

 lo find all quiet, and the men cniployod in thoir c:ino"» 

 spearing fish. 



