132 
TERRA DEL FUEGO. 
All our endeavours to find out how they ignited their fire proved 
unavailing. It must be exceedingly difficult for them to accomplish, 
judging from the care they take of it, always carrying it with them 
in their canoes, and the danger they thus run of injuring themselves 
by it. 
Their food consists of limpets, muscles, and other shell-fish. 
Quantities of fish, and some seals, are now and then taken among the 
kelp, and with berries of various kinds, and wild celery, they do not 
want. They seldom cook their food much. The shell-fish are 
detached from the shell by heat, and the fish are partly roasted in 
their skins, without being cleaned. 
When on board, one of them w T as induced to sit at the dinner table, 
when ; after a few lessons, he handled his knife and fork with much 
dexterity. He refused both spirits and wine, but was very fond of 
sweetened water. Salt provisions were not at all to his liking, but 
rice and plum pudding were agreeable to his taste, and he literally 
crammed them into his mouth. After his appetite had been satisfied, 
he was in great good humour, singing his " Hey meh leh," dancing 
and laughing. His mimickry prevented any satisfactory inquiries 
being made of him relative to a vocabulary. 
Some of the officers painted their faces black, white, and red ; this 
delighted them very much, and it was quite amusing to see the 
grimaces made by them before a looking-glass. 
One of these natives remained on board for upwards of a week, and 
being washed and combed, he became two or three shades lighter in 
colour. Clothes were put on him. He was about twenty-three years 
of age, and was unwell the whole time he was on board, from eating 
such quantities of rice, &,c. His astonishment was very great on 
attending divine service. The moment the chaplain began to read 
from the book, his eyes were riveted upon him, where they remained 
as long as he continued to read. At the end of the week he became 
dissatisfied, and was set on shore, and soon appeared naked again. 
It was observed on presents being made, that those who did not 
receive any began a sort of whining cry, putting on the most doleful- 
looking countenances imaginable. 
They are much addicted to theft, if any opportunity offers. The 
night before they left the bay, they stole and cut up one of the wind 
sails, which had been scrubbed and hung up on shore to dry. 
Although we had no absolute proof of it, we are inclined to the 
belief that they bury their dead in caves. 
