Jan. 1833. 



BEAGLE CHANNEL. 



241 



where poor Jemmy expected to find his mother and relations. 

 We staid there five days. Captain FitzRoy has given an 

 account of all the interesting events which there happened. 



During the succeeding year we paid another visit to the 

 Fuegians^ and the Beagle herself followed the same course 

 which I have just described as having been taken in the boats. 

 I was amused by finding what a difference the circumstance of 

 being quite superior in force made^, in the interest of behold- 

 ing these savages. While in the boats I got to hate the 

 very sound of their voices, so much trouble did they give us. 

 The first and last word was " yammerschooner.^^ When, 

 entering some quiet little cove, we have looked round and 

 thought to pass a quiet night, the odious word yammer- 

 schooner" has shrilly sounded from some gloomy nook, and 

 then the little signal smoke has curled upwards to spread the 

 news. On leaving some place we have said to each other. 

 Thank Heaven, we have at last fairly left these wretches !" 

 when one more faint halloo from an all-powerful voice, 

 heard at a prodigious distance, would reach our ears, and 

 clearly could we distinguish — " yammerschooner." But on 

 the latter occasion, the more Fuegians the merrier; and 

 very merry work it was. Both parties laughing, wondering, 

 gaping at each other ; we pitying them, for giving us good 

 fish and crabs for rags, &c. ; they grasping at the chance of 

 finding people so foolish as to exchange such splendid orna- 

 ments for a good supper. It was most amusing to see the 

 undisguised smile of satisfaction with which one young wo- 

 man, with her face painted black, tied with rushes several 

 bits of scarlet cloth round her head. Her husband, who en- 

 joyed the very universal privilege in this country of possess- 

 ing two wives, evidently became jealous of all the attention 

 paid to his young wife ; and, after a consultation with his 

 naked beauties, was paddled away by them. 



Some of the Fuegians plainly showed that they had a fair 

 idea of barter. I gave one man a large nail (a most valuable 

 present) without making any signs for a return ; but he imme- 

 diately picked out two fish, and handed them up on the 



VOL. III. R 



