410 



NATURE OF TIERllA DEL FUEGO. 



March 1830. 



They seemed to belong to the same tribe as those we had last 

 seen. 



4th. This afternoon our boafs keel was laid down, and 

 her moulds were set up. Fuegia Basket * told ' York Min- 

 ster -|- all her story ; at some parts of which he laughed 

 heartily. Fuegia, cleaned and dressed, was much improved in 

 appearance : she was already a pet on the lower deck, and 

 appeared to be quite contented. York Minster was sullen at 

 first, yet his appetite did not fail ; and whatever he received 

 more than he could eat, he stowed away in a corner ; but as 

 soon as he was well cleaned and clothed, and allowed to go 

 about where he liked in the vessel, he became much more 

 cheerful. 



" At Cape Castlereagh and the heights over Doris Cove in 

 Gilbert Island, the rock seemed to contain so much metal, that 

 I spent the greater part of one day in trying experiments on 

 pieces of it, with a blowpipe and mercury. By pounding and 

 washing I separated about a tea-spoonful of metal from a piece 

 of rock (taken at random) the size of a small cup. I put the 

 powder by carefully, with some specimens of the rock — think- 

 ing that some of these otherwise barren mountains might be 

 rich in metals. It would not be in conformity with most other 

 parts of the world were the tract of mountainous islands com- 

 posing the Archipelago of Tierra del Fuego condemned to in- 

 ternal as well as external unprofitableness. From the nature of 

 the climate agriculture could seldom succeed; and perhaps no 

 quadrupeds fit for man's use, except goats and dogs, could 

 thrive in it : externally too, the land is unfit for the use of 

 civilized man. In a few years its shores will be destitute of seal: 

 and then, what benefit will be derived from it? — unless it 

 prove internally rich, not in gold or silver, but perhaps in 

 copper, iron, or other metals. 



" 5th. This day all hands were put on full allowance, our 

 savings since we left San Carlos having secured a sufficient 



* So called in remembrance of the basket-like canoe by which we 

 received intellig^ence of the loss of our boat, 

 t The man 1 took out of the canoe. 



