128 TERRA DEL FUEGO. 



His mimickry prevented any satisfactory inquiries being made of him 

 relative to a vocabulary. 



Some of the officers painted the faces of these natives 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. 



There is a black-coloured moss that covers the ground in places, 

 giving it the appearance of having been burnt. Many small ponds are 

 met with, as though the peat had been dug up from the place, and the 

 holes filled with water. There is great plenty of scurvy-grass and wild 

 celery close to the beach. 



Here any quantity of water may be obtained on the top and sloping 

 sides of the hills. 



The decomposition of the feldspathic rocks appears to be going on 

 rapidly. This, combined with vegetable matter, forms a rich soil; 

 but it is so exceedingly wet from the constant rains and snows, that 

 it is very questionable if any agricultural operations could succeed. 



At Orange Harbour the tide was found to have four feet rise and 

 fall. High water, full and change, at 4 r. m. Among the Hermit 

 Islands it seems to be affected by the winds in the offing The flood 

 sets to the east. 



Large numbers of humpback whales were seen in March, about 

 Orange Harbour. 



In a small cove on New Island, a different description of hut was 

 seen by the officers of the Relief. Not having met with any natives, 

 it was not in their power to ascertain if it belonged to the same tribe. 



