June. REFLECTIONS—FUEGIANS ON BOARD. 459 
bringing them back to Tierra del Fuego. These ideas were 
confirmed by finding that the tribes of Fuegians, eastward of 
Christmas Sound, were hostile to York Minster’s tribe, and 
that therefore we could not, in common humanity, land them 
in Nassau Bay or near the Strait of Le Maire. Neither could 
I put the boy ashore again, when once to the eastward of 
Nassau Bay, without risking his life; hence I had only the 
alternative of beating to the westward, to land them in their 
own districts, which circumstances rendered impracticable, or 
that of taking them to England. In adopting the latter course 
I incurred a deep responsibility, but was fully aware of what 
I was undertaking. 
“ The Fuegians were much slower in learning English than 
I expected from their quickness in mimickry, but they under- 
stood clearly when we left the coast that they would return to 
their country at a future time, with iron, tools, clothes, and 
knowledge which they might spread among their countrymen. 
They helped the crew whenever required ; were extremely trac- 
table and good-humoured, even taking pains to walk properly, 
and get over the crouching posture of their countrynien. 
«© When we were at anchor in Good Success Bay, they went 
ashore with me more than once, and occasionally took an 
oar in the boat, without appearing to harbour a thought of 
escape. 
“* During the night of the 13th, we were near the land about 
Sea Bear Bay ; the wind, however, drew to the northward, and 
with a strong current setting to the S.E., drove us off again. 
“The 14th was foggy; clouds preventing any observations, 
but at three in the afternoon we made the land, a little north 
of Port Desire, near what is called in the chart ‘ Rivers Peak.’ 
The wind having hauled to the southward, and the current 
setting northward, prevented our approaching nearer to the port 
on that day. 
*« At daylight on the 15th, we were again off Rivers Peak, 
notwithstanding our having carried a press of sail in order to 
make southing during the night. We were set twenty miles to 
the northward during that time; but a slant of wind and 
