March 1830. FUEGIANS—YORK MINSTER. 409 
moderate weather and a little sunshine, he might have been 
expected to return in a week or ten days. He carried a chrono- 
meter and other necessary instruments. Two of the three chil- 
dren, left by their mother at Stewart Harbour, I sent with 
Mr. Murray, to be left with any Fuegians he might find 
most to the westward, whence they would soon find their friends. 
The third, who was about eight years old, was still with us: 
she seemed to be so happy and healthy, that I determined to 
detain her as a hostage for the stolen boat, and try to teach her 
English. Lieutenant Kempe built a temporary house for the 
carpenters, and other workmen, near the ship and the spot 
chosen for observations, so that all our little establishment was 
close together. The greater part of the boat’s materials being 
already prepared, she was not expected to be long in build- 
ing, under the able direction and assistance of Mr. May. 
«3d. Some Fuegians in acanoe approached us this morning, 
seeming anxious to come on board. I had no wish for their 
company, and was sorry to see that they had found us out ; 
for it was to be expected that they would soon pay us nightly 
as well as daily visits, and steal every thing left within their 
reach. Having made signs for them to leave us, without effect, 
I sent Mr. Wilson to drive them away, and fire a pistol over 
their heads, to frighten them. They then went back, but only 
round a point of land near the ship; so I sent the boat again 
to drive them out of the harbour, and deter them from paying 
us another visit. Reflecting, while Mr. Wilson was following 
them, that by getting one of these natives on board, there 
would be a chance of his learning enough English to be an 
interpreter, and that by his means we might recover our lost 
boat, I resolved to take the youngest man on board, as he, in 
all probability, had less strong ties to bind him to his people 
than others who were older, and might have families. With 
these ideas I went after them, and hauling their canoe alongside 
of my boat, told a young man to come into it; he did so, 
quite unconcernedly, and sat down, apparently contented 
and at his ease. The others said nothing, either to me or 
to him, but paddled out of the harbour as fast as they could. 
