Feb. 1827. 



FUEGIAN NATIVES. 



7T 



hands on the dog, at which the woman set up a dismal yell ; 

 so bidding him desist, I increased my offers. She declined to 

 part with it, but would give two others. At last, my offers 

 became so considerable, that she called a little boy out of the 

 thick jungle (into which he had fled at our approach), who 

 was the owner of the dog. The goods were shown to him, 

 and all his party urged him to sell it, but the little urchin 

 would not consent. He offered to let me have his necklace, and 

 what he received in exchange was put away in his own little 

 basket. 



" These people never evinced any thankfulness for our pre- 

 vsents. Whatever was offered they ' clutched at,' doubtful of 

 getting it, although held out to them ; and when in their own 

 hand, it was instantly stowed away, as if they feared it would 

 be recalled. 



" I sometimes tried to discover whether they preferred any 

 particular colour, and for that purpose held out three strings 

 of beads, black, white, and red ; they clutched at all three, in 

 their usual manner, without showing any preference. 



Their pronunciation is exceedingly harsh and guttural ; 

 not more than two words, whose signification was at all ascer- 

 tained, could be made out, ' sherroo,' a ship, boat, or canoe, 

 and ' peteet," a child. They have a wonderful aptitude for 

 imitating the sounds of strange languages : let a sentence, of 

 even a dozen words, be distinctly pronounced, and they will 

 repeat it with the utmost precision. 



" Their only articles of traffic, besides such implements and 

 weapons as they use, are seal and otter skins ; and I should say 

 that the quantity of peltry to be procured from them would be 

 insignificant towards completing the cargo of a sealing vessel."" 



During the next few days the Beagle was employed in the 

 most exposed, the least known, and the most dangerous part 

 of the Strait. Fortunately, she was favoured by weather, and 

 effected her purpose without injury or loss ; but I never reflect 

 upon this piece of service without an inward tribute of admira- 

 tion to the daring, skill, and seamanship of Captain Stokes, 

 Lieutenant Skyring, and Mr. Flinn. 



