1833. CONDUCT TO MATTHEWS. 221 



safe among such a set of utter savages as he found them to be, 

 notwithstanding Jemmy's assurances to the contrary. No 

 violence had been committed beyond holding down his head 

 by force, as if in contempt of his strength ; but he had been 

 harshly threatened by several men, and from the signs used by 

 them, he felt convinced they would take his life. During the 

 last few days, his time had been altogether occupied in watch- 

 ing his property. At first there were only a few quiet natives 

 about him, who were inoffensive; but three days after our 

 departure several canoes full of strangers to Jemmy's family 

 arrived, and from that time Matthews had had no peace by 

 day, and very little rest at night. Some of them were always 

 on the look-out for an opportunity to snatch up and run off 

 with some tool or article of clothing, and others spent the 

 greater part of each day in his wigwam, asking for every thing 

 they saw, and often threatening him when he refused to comply 

 with their wishes. More than one man went out in a rage, and 

 returned immediately with a large stone in his hand, making 

 signs that he would kill Matthews if he did not give him what 

 was demanded. Sometimes a party of them gathered round 

 Matthews, and, if he had nothing to give them, teased him 

 by pulling the hair of his face, pushing him about, and making 

 mouths at him. His only partizans were the women; now 

 and then he left Jemmy to guard the hut, and went to the 

 natives' wigwams, where the women always received him kindly, 

 making room for him by their fire, and giving him a share of 

 whatever food they had, without asking for any thing in return. 

 The men never took the trouble of going with him on these 

 visits (which, however, ceased when so many strangers ar- 

 rived), their attention being engrossed by the tools, clothes, 

 and crockeryware at our shipmate's quarters. Fortunately, 

 the most valuable part of Matthews' own things were under- 

 ground, in a cave unsuspected by the natives, and other large 

 tools were hidden overhead in the roof of his hut. York and 

 Fuegia fared very well ; they lost nothing ; but Jemmy was 

 sadly plundered, even by his own family. Our garden, upon 

 which much labour had been bestowed, had been trampled 



