March 1830. 



rUEGlANS YORK MINSTER. 



409 



moderate weather and a little sunshine, he might have been 

 expected to return in a week or ten days. He carried a chrono- 

 meter and other necessary instruments. Two of the three chil- 

 dren, left by their mother at Stewart Harbour, I sent with 

 Mr. Murray, to be left with any Fuegians he might find 

 most to the westward, whence they would soon find their friends. 

 The third, who was about eight years old, was still with us : 

 she seemed to be so happy and healthy, that I determined to 

 detain her as a hostage for the stolen boat, and try to teach her 

 English. Lieutenant Kempe built a temporary house for the 

 carpenters, and other workmen, near the ship and the spot 

 chosen for observations, so that all our little establishment was 

 close together. Th^ greater part of the boafs materials being 

 already prepared, she was not expected to be long in build- 

 ing, under the able direction and assistance of Mr. May. 



"3d. Some Fuegians in a canoe approached us this morning, 

 seeming anxious to come on board. I had no wish for their 

 company, and was sorry to see that they had found us out ; 

 for it was to be expected that they would soon pay us nightly 

 as well as daily visits, and steal every thing left within their 

 reach. Having made signs for them to leave us, without effect, 

 I sent Mr. Wilson to drive them away, and fire a pistol over 

 their heads, to frighten them. They then went back, but only 

 round a point of land near the ship ; so I sent the boat again 

 to drive them out of the harbour, and deter them from paying 

 us another visit. Reflecting, while Mr. AVilson was following 

 them, that by getting one of these natives on board, there 

 would be a chance of his learning enough English to be an 

 interpreter, and that by his means we might recover our lost 

 boat, I resolved to take the youngest man on board, as he, in 

 all probability, had less strong ties to bind him to his people 

 than others who were older, and might have families. With 

 these ideas I went after them, and hauling their canoe alongside 

 of my boat, told a young man to come into it ; he did so, 

 quite unconcernedly, and sat down, apparently contented 

 and at his ease. The others said nothing, either to me or 

 to him, but paddled out of the harbour as fast as they could. 



