416 



BOAT MEMORY — PETREL. 



March 1830. 



but a few people on board, their idea of the power of Euro- 

 peans is very poor, and their dread of fire-arms not nearly so 

 Great as might be imagined. 



o o o 



" From this cove we returned to the Beagle. My Fuegian 

 captive, whom I named ' Boat Memory,' seemed frightened, 

 but not low-spirited ; he eat enormously, and soon fell fast 

 asleep. The meeting between him and York Minster was very 

 tame, for, at first, they would not appear to recognise or speak 

 to each other. ' Boat' was the best-featured Fuegian I had 

 seen, and being young and well made, was a very favourable 

 specimen of the race : ' York' was one of the stoutest men I had 

 observed among them ; but little Fuegia was almost as broad 

 as she was high : she seemed to be so merry and happy, that I 

 do not think she would willingly have quitted us. Three natives 

 of Tierra del Fuego, better suited for the purpose of instruc- 

 tion, and for giving, as well as receiving information, could 

 not, I think, have been found. 



10th. This morning, having been well cleaned and dressed, 

 ' Boat' appeared contented and easy ; and being together, kept 

 York and him in better spirits than they would probably other- 

 wise have been, for they laughed, and tried to talk, by imi- 

 tating whatever was said. Fuegia soon began to learn English, 

 and to say several things very well. She laughed and talked 

 with her countrymen incessantly. 



" 12th. Some evenings, at dusk, I observed large flights of 

 birds, of the petrel kind, skimming over the sea (like swallows), 

 as if in chase of insects. These birds were black, about the size 

 of a ' Cape Pigeon.' We tried to shoot one, but did not suc- 

 ceed." 



