THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. 313 



come on board, the three men of the party at once climbed up 

 the side of the vessel. It was interesting to notice the variety 

 of physiognomy presented by the three, the youngest of whom 

 had a very pleasant, intelligent countenance, and appeared 

 very good-humoured, smiling and laughing perpetually. All 

 three exhibited much curiosity about the various fittings of 

 the ship. They knew one or two English words, requesting 

 " pipe " from us, and remarking, on feeling the heat coming 

 up from the engine-room, "fire." They appeared greatly 

 amused by seeing the reflection of their faces in the chart- 

 room windows. We were much struck with their talent for 

 mimicry, as they repeated English words and short sentences 

 with the utmost accuracy. This property is possessed by all 

 these people, and constitutes the great source of difficulty to 

 be encountered in attempting to learn anything with regard 

 to their language. We frequently, on subsequent occasions, 

 pointed to various articles, naming them in English, in the 

 hope that they would give them the equivalent appella- 

 tion in their tongue, but generally quite in vain, as they 

 would merely repeat what we had said, with the greatest 

 exactness. This party left us after spending about an hour 

 on board, returning to a spot on the beach where we had 

 noticed some rude beehive-shaped wigwams, formed of boughs 

 stuck into the ground in a circle, with their upper ends bent 

 inwards and fastened together in the centre so as to form a 

 frame-work, which is temporarily roofed in, when in use, with 

 green branches. 



As during this and the ensuing season we had various 

 interviews with these people, it may be well here to offer a 

 few remarks on the little that is known regarding them ; and 

 I may state at the outset that I think there can be no manner 

 of doubt that, though occurring on the west coast of Pata- 



