Feb. 1827. FUEGIAN NATIVES. AS 
were found standing, and from the green appearance of the 
branches with which they were formed, seemed to have been 
lately erected. After leaving Willes Bay, the Hope visited Fox 
Bay, and Sir Edward Owen’s Sound, which, it was thought, 
would lead into Lomas Bay, opposite to Port Famine ; but, 
after running ten miles up, they got into shoal water, and as 
there was no current, or stream of tide, they landed, and found 
that a mile and a half farther on, the sound was terminated 
by low land. Another day, while proceeding along the south 
side of Brenton Sound, the smoke of Indians’ fires was 
noticed near the beach. As this was the first time the Natives 
of this part had been seen, the course was shaped towards 
them, until the Hope anchored. Three Indians then ap- 
proached, holding up the skins of some animal, and inviting 
them to land. The small boat was hoisted out, and Messrs- 
Wickham and Rowlett, with Robinson the pilot, went on 
shore. The Fuegians presented a fox skin to each of the party, 
who in return gave them some trifles. After a short inter- 
view the boat left them, and no further communication was 
held that night. The following morning a canoe came off to 
the vessel, containing three young men, two women, and three 
children, the youngest not more than four months old. They 
were no sooner alongside than the men went on board, and 
commenced an active traffic with all the valuables they pos- 
sessed ; and for a few buttons, a glass bottle, or an empty pre- 
served-meat canister, many of their goods were bartered. They 
had several fox-skins with them, but no other kind of peltry, 
except their clothing, obtained from the seal or guanaco: and 
though many of them wore a penguin skin suspended from 
their girdle, some were without even that covering. This canoe 
was followed by another, containing,an old man, sixty or 
seventy years of age, with a grey beard; an elderly woman, 
and two children. Before they came alongside they put their 
dogs on shore. 
Although the visit from these Indians did not last very long, 
they had time enough to pilfer. One of the young men, who 
was seen going into a canoe, excited, by his manner, a suspi- 
