6 



LETTER FUEGIANS. 



1830. 



" Afterwards, when in Nassau Bay, our captives informed 

 us that the natives of that part of the coast, and all to the 

 eastward, were their enemies, and that they spoke a different 

 language. This intelligence was extremely disappointing, and 

 made me anxious to persuade one of this eastern tribe to come 

 on board and stay with us ; but I had then no hopes of doing 

 so, and gave up the idea : however, some time afterwards, 

 accidentally meeting three canoes, when away in my boat ex- 

 ploring the Beagle Channel, I prevailed on their occupants to 

 put one of the party, a stout boy, into my boat, and in return 

 I gave them beads, buttons, and other trifles. Whether they 

 intended that he should remain with us permanently, I do not 

 know ; but they seemed contented with the singular bargain, 

 and paddled again towards the cove from which they had 

 approached my boat. We pulled on along shore, attended by 

 other canoes, which had been endeavouring to barter with us 

 whenever we stopped ; but at dusk they ceased following, us 

 and went ashore. 



" When about to depart from the Fuegian coast, I decided 

 to keep these four natives on board, for they appeared to be 

 quite cheerful and contented with their situation ; and I thought 

 that many good effects might be the consequence of their living 

 a short time in England. They have lived, and have been 

 clothed like the seamen, and are now, and have been always, 

 in excellent health and very happy. They understand why 

 they were taken, and look forward with pleasure to seeing our 

 country, as well as to returning to their own. 



" Should not his Majesty's Government direct otherwise, I 

 shall procure for these people a suitable education, and, after 

 two or three years, shall send or take them back to their coun- 

 try, with as large a stock as I can collect of those articles most 

 useful to them, and most likely to improve the condition of 

 their countrymen, who are now scarcely superior to the brute 

 creation. 



" I have, &c. 



" Phillip Parker King, Esq. Robert Fitz-Roy, 

 Commander H.M.S. Adventure, Commander.''' 

 Senior officer of the Expedition."" 



