222 TIERRA DEL FUEGO. [cuapP. x. 
they expressed a wish to remain here, and as the spot was singu- 
larly 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 imme- 
diately went to look after her canoe. We heard, however, 
through York that the mother had 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, aud 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 ina 
neighbouring brook; they did not pay much attention to-any- 
thing 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: breath- 
less with astonishment 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 negro-cook to a sealing vessel, did so more 
effectually ; and the poor fellow was so mobbed and shouted at 
