MATTHEWS RE-EMBARKS. 



Feb. 



over repeatedly, although Jemmy had done his best to explain 

 its object and prevent people from walking there. When 

 questioned about it, he looked very sorrowful, and, with a slow < 

 shake of the head, said, " My people very bad ; great fool ; 

 know nothing at all ; very great fool.""' It was soon decided 

 that Matthews should not remain. I considered that he had 

 already undergone a severe trial, and ought not to be again 

 exposed to such savages, however willing he might be to try 

 them farther if I thought it right. The next difficulty was how 

 to get Matthews'* chest and the remainder of his property safely 

 into our boats, in the face of a hundred Fuegians, who would of 

 course understand our object, and be much more than a match 

 for us on land ; but the less hesitation shown, the less time 

 they would have to think of what we were about ; so, dividing 

 our party, and spreading about a little to create confidence — at a 

 favourable moment the wigwam was quickly cleared, the cave 

 emptied, and the contents safely placed in our boats. As I 

 stood watching the proceedings, a few anxious moments passed, 

 for any kind of skirmish would have been so detrimental to 

 the three who were still to remain. When the last man was 

 embarked, I distributed several useful articles, such as axes, 

 saws, gimblets, knives and nails, among the natives, then 

 bade Jemmy and York farewell, promising to see them again 

 in a few days, and departed from the wondering throng assem- 

 bled on the beach. 



When fairly out of sight of Woollya, sailing with a fair 

 wind towards the Beagle, Matthews must have felt almost like 

 a man reprieved, excepting that he enjoyed the feelings always 

 sure to reward those who try to do their duty, in addition to 

 those excited by a sudden certainty of his life being out of 

 jeopardy. We slept that night in a cove under Webley Head ; 

 sailed early the following morning (7th) along the north side 

 of Nassau Bay, and about an hour after dark reached the 

 Beagle — found all well, the surveying work about Goree Road 

 done, the ship refitted, and quite ready for her next trip. 



A day or two was required for observations and arrange- 

 ments, after which (10th) we beat to windward across Nassau 



