320 



SLINGS FIRING — CONNING. 



April 1830« 



are the very reverse. Had we attempted to land on the last 

 occasion, I do not think we should have effected our object, 

 without receiving some severe contusions from their stones, 

 which they sling with such extraordinary precision and force : 

 so much so, that I consider the sling, in their dexterous hands, 

 to be equal to a musket in ours. Indeed, with many of us, a 

 native would have had the advantaoe. It has been too much 

 the practice, when obliged to fire upon them, to fire over their 

 heads ; by which proceeding the savages are led to consider 

 our weapons as so uncertain in their effect, that they become 

 much depreciated in their estimation. It would be almost pre- 

 ferable to inflict a slight wound, in order to show the nature of 

 our arms, and as a warning against further hostilities. 



When the Uxbridge, sealer, was at anchor in a harbour in 

 the Magdalen Channel, some Indians, who were on board, 

 angry at being ordered out of the vessel at sunset, threw stones 

 at the person who was walking the deck, as they returned to 

 the shore. Several muskets were fired over their heads, at 

 which they expressed neither fear nor concern ; but paddled 

 leisurely away, and the next morning came off again to the 

 vessel, as if nothing had happened. At Port Famine, Duclos 

 Guyot had a skirmish with natives, the particulars of which 

 are described in Dom Pernetty's History (ii. 653). Three of 

 the Indians were killed, and three of the French were severely 

 wounded. It may be here remarked, that the chief's name, 

 according to M. Duclos Guyot, was ' Pach-a-chui,' which is 

 not unlike ' Pecheray the women were called ' Cap, cap,'' 

 probably a mistake for ' Cab, cab which evidently means 

 ' no, no !' for it was an expression we frequently used, and 

 was never misunderstood. Their cunning is sufficiently proved 

 by the theft of the Adelaide's boat, in St. Simon's Sound 

 (page 142). 



The absence of the Fuegians permitted us to move about a 

 little ; and among other places, we visited their late encamp- 

 ment at Rocky Bay, our approach to which was offensively 

 indicated by a most sickening smell. On our way, I found two 

 fossils ; one was very interesting, bearing the appearance of a 



