June. REFLECTIONS FUEGIANS ON BOARD. 459 



bringing them back to Tierra del Fuego. These ideas were 

 confirmed by finding that the tribes of Fuegians, eastward of 

 Christmas Sound, were hostile to York Minster''s tribe, and 

 that therefore we could not, in common humanity, land them 

 in Nassau Bay or near the Strait of Le Maire. Neither could 

 I put the boy ashore again, when once to the eastward of 

 Nassau Bay, without risking his life ; hence I had only the 

 alternative of beating to the westward, to land them in their 

 own districts, which circumstances rendered impracticable, or 

 that of taking them to England. In adopting the latter course 

 I incurred a deep responsibility, but was fully aware of what 

 I was undertaking. 



" The Fuegians were much slower in learning English than 

 I expected from their quickness in mimickry, but they under- 

 stood clearly when we left the coast that they would return to 

 their country at a future time, with iron, tools, clothes, and 

 knowledge which they might spread among their countrymen. 

 They helped the crew whenever required ; were extremely trac- 

 table and good-humoured, even taking pains to walk properly, 

 and get over the crouching posture of their countrymen. 



When we were at anchor in Good Success Bay, they went 

 ashore with me more than once, and occasionally took an 

 oar in the boat, without appearing to harbour a thought of 

 escape. 



" During the night of the 13th, we were near the land about 

 Sea Bear Bay ; the wind, however, drew to the northward, and 

 with a strong current setting to the S.E., drove us off again. 



" The 14th was foggy ; clouds preventing any observations, 

 but at three in the afternoon we made the land, a little north 

 of Port Desire, near what is called in the chart ' Rivers Peak."* 

 The wind having hauled to the southward, and the current 

 setting northward, prevented our approaching nearer to the port 

 on that day. 



" At daylight on the 15th, we were again off Rivers Peak, 

 notwithstanding our having carried a press of sail in order to 

 make southing during the night. We were set twenty miles to 

 the northward during that time ; but a slant of wind and 



