1835. 



CURIOSITY — THEFT^ — STNGIXG- 



51-1 



While we were engaged with the instruments on shore, a crowd 

 of natives were eagerly displaying their merchandise along side 

 or on board the ship. From the dawn of day, until they were 

 admitted at breakfast time, canoes had been approaching from 

 every direction. Their occupants had heard of the dollars, and 

 -every canoe within reach had been loaded. This sort of com- 

 .petition could not last ; so I thought it better to give them as 

 much opportunity to dispose of their wares as our small deck 

 allowed ; and desired Lieut. Wickham to let the market be 

 held till trade grew dull. Some wanted to build us a house; 

 many asked to be allowed to wash our clothes. There appeared 

 to be no want of will to work, if dollars were to be gained. 



On shore it was difficult to make the required observations, 

 among a crowd of curious observers of ourselves and our instru- 

 ments ; for though they readily drew back as far as we wished, 

 it was quite impossible to keep them from running about and 

 shaking the ground. While employed with the dipping needle 

 under a tent, I thought myself fortified : but they besieged the 

 small opening so closely, in their eagerness to see the sight, 

 that the heat caused by a vertical sun was soon increased to 

 that of an oven, from their thus blocking up the only air-hole. 



At my return to the ship in the evening, I found that the 

 fair had not lasted above an hour after breakfast. All the natives 

 , had behaved well excepting tv/o; one of whom absconded with 

 the top of a brass stanchion. The other tried to carry off an 

 axe ; but was detected, and pointed out to the more respec- 

 table of his countrymen, who said he should be tried, and that 

 his sentence would probably be a fine of ten hogs.* 



This evening some of our party were much pleased by hear- 

 ing the pretty plaintive songs of the children, as they sat in 

 groups upon the shore. Their voices accord in the most per- 

 fect manner ; and, although the tunes are rather monotonous, 



* The man who tried to steal the axe wa fined ei^ht hogs and a large 

 piece of cloth. Five of the pigs went to the queen, and three M ere seat 

 on board the Beagle. The cloth was given to the man who caught the 

 thief. 



VOL. II. 2 L 



