CHAP, x.] SETTLEMENT AT \VOOLL YA. 211 



elsewhere) cither by peat or by forest-trees. Captain Fitz Roy 

 originally intended, as before stated, to have taken York Minster 

 and Fuegia to their own tribe on the west coast; but as they 

 expressed a wish to remain here, and as the spot was singularly 

 favourable, Captain Fitz Roy determined to settle here the whole 

 party, including Matthews, the missionary. Five days were spent 

 in building for them three large wigwams, in landing their goods, 

 in digging two gardens, and sowing seeds. 



The next morning after our arrival (the 24th) the Fuegians 

 began to pour in, and Jemmy's mother and brothers arrived. 

 Jemmy recognised 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 com- 

 panion. There was no demonstration 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 the mother has 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 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 astonish- 

 ment, 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 



