March 1830. captive — strength and bravery. 



415 



they could land, but so close to the shore that while securing 

 one canoe, the other^ escaped. From that which we seized a 

 young man and a girl jumped overboard, deserting an old 

 woman and a child, whom we left in order to chase the young 

 man ; but he was so active in the water that it was fully a 

 quarter of an hour before we could get him into our boat. 

 Having at last secured him, we followed the others, but they 

 had all landed and hidden, so we returned across the sound 

 with our captive. In our way a smoke was seen in a cove of 

 Waterman Island, and knov/ing that it must be made by 

 those who escaped us yesterday, as there were no other natives 

 there, we made sail for it ; but the rogues saw us, and put out 

 their fire. When we reached the spot, however, we found two 

 wigwams just built, and covered with bark ; so that there 

 they had passed the night after their skirmish. I would not 

 let any one land, as the Fuegians might be lurking in the 

 bushes, and might be too much for two or three of us on 

 shore, — but left the place. They would think us gone for more 

 boats, as at the former meeting, and would shift their quarters 

 immediately ; so by thus harassing them, I hoped to be freed 

 from any more of their visits while we remained in the neigh- 

 bourhood. 



" The bodily strength of these savages is very great York 

 Minster' is as strong as any two of our stoutest men), which, 

 with their agility, both on shore and in the water, and their 

 quickness in attack and defence with stones and sticks, makes 

 them difficult to deal with when out of their canoes. They are 

 a brave, hardy race, and fight to the last struggle ; though in 

 the manner of a wild beast, it must be owned, else they would 

 not, when excited, defy a whole boat's crew, and, single- 

 handed, try to kill the men ; as I have witnessed. That kind- 

 ness towards these beings, and good treatment of them, is as 

 yet useless, I almost think, both from my own experience and 

 from much that I have heard of their conduct to sealing ves- 

 sels. Until a mutual understanding can be established, moral 

 fear is the only means by which they can be kept peaceable. 

 As they see only vessels which when their boats are away have 



