250 



CHARLES DARWIN 



They had been exposed night and day, without any shelter, 

 to the late incessant gales, with rain, sleet, and snow, and yet 

 they were in good health. 



During our stay at Port Famine, the Fuegians twice came 

 and plagued us. As there were many instruments, clothes, 

 and men on shore, it was thought necessary to frighten them 

 away. The first time a few great guns were fired, when they 

 were far distant. It was most ludicrous to watch through a 

 glass the Indians, as often as the shot struck the water, take 

 Up stones, and, as a bold defiance, throw them towards the 

 ship, though about a mile and a half distant ! A boat was 

 sent with orders to fire a few musket-shots wide of them. 

 The Fuegians hid themselves behind the trees, and for every 

 discharge of the muskets they fired their arrows; all, how- 

 ever, fell short of the boat, and the officer as he pointed at 

 them laughed. This made the Fuegians frantic with passion, 

 and they shook their mantles in vain rage. At last, seeing 

 the balls cut and strike the trees, they ran away, and we were 

 left in peace and quietness. During the former voyage the 

 Fuegians were here very troublesome, and to frighten them a 

 ■ rocket was fired at night over their wigwams; it answered 

 effectually, and one of the officers told me that the clamour 

 first raised, and the barking of the dogs, was quite ludicrous 

 in contrast with the profound silence which in a minute or 

 two afterwards prevailed. The next morning not a single 

 Fuegian was in the neighbourhood. 



When the Beagle was here in the month of February, I 

 started one morning at four o'clock to ascend Mount Tarn, 

 which is 2600 feet high, and is the most elevated point in this 

 immediate district. We went in a boat to the foot of the 

 mountain (but unluckily not to the best part), and then 

 began our ascent. The forest commences at the line of high- 

 water mark, and during the first two hours I gave over all 

 hopes of reaching the summit. So thick was the wood, that 

 it was necessary to have constant recourse to the compass; 

 for every landmark, though in a mountainous country, was 

 completely shut out. In the deep ravines, the death-like 

 scene of desolation exceeded all description; outside it was 

 blowing a gale, but in these hollows, not even a breath o£ 

 wind stirred the leaves of the tallest trees. So gloomy, cold, 



