Feb. 1830. 



NATURE OF COAST — NATIVES. 



405 



I had reason to place great confidence in his work, for he had 

 always taken the utmost pains, and had been most careful. My 

 wanderings had shown me that from the apparent sea coast 

 to the base of that snowy chain of mountains which runs east- 

 ward from the Barbara Channel, there is much more water 

 than land, and that a number of islands, lying near together, 

 form the apparently connected coast ; within which a wide 

 sound-like passage extends, opening in places into bays and 

 gulfs, where islands, islets, rocks and breakers, are very 

 numerous. These waters wash the foot of the snowy chain 

 which forms a continued barrier from the Barbara Channel to 

 the Strait of Le Maire. This cruise had also given me more 

 insight into the real character of the Fuegians, than I had 

 then acquired by other means, and gave us all a severe warn- 

 ing which might prove very useful at a future day, when 

 among more numerous tribes who would not be contented 

 with a boat alone. Considering the extent of coast we had 

 already examined, we ought to be thankful for having expe- 

 rienced no other disaster of any kind, and for having had the 

 means of replacing this loss, 



" I became convinced that so long as we were ignorant of the 

 Fuegian language, and the natives were equally ignorant of 

 ours, we should never know much about them, or the interior 

 of their country ; nor would there be the slightest chance of 

 their being raised one step above the low place which they then 

 held in our estimation. Their words seemed to be short, but 

 to have many meanings, and their pronunciation was harsh 

 and guttural. 



Stewart Harbour, in which the Beagle remained during 

 the last boat cruise, proved to be a good one, and, having 

 three outlets, may be entered or quitted with any wind, and 

 without warping. Wood and water are as abundant as in other 

 Fuegian harbours ; and it may be easily known by the remark- 

 able appearance of Cape Castlereagh, which is on the island 

 that shelters the anchorage from the S.W. wind and sea. The 

 outlets are narrow, and can only be passed with a leading wind ; 

 but if one does not serve, another will answer. It should be 



