242 
TIERRA DEL FUEGO 
CHAP. 
into his canoe. He returned loaded with valuable property. 
Every soul on board was heartily sorry to shake hands with him 
for the last time. I do not now doubt that he will be as happy 
as, perhaps happier than, if he had never left his own country. 
Every one must sincerely hope that Captain Fitz Roy’s noble 
hope may be fulfilled, of being rewarded for the many generous 
sacrifices which he made for these Fuegians, by some ship¬ 
wrecked sailor being protected by the descendants of Jemmy 
Button and his tribe ! When Jemmy reached the shore, he 
lighted a signal fire, and the smoke curled up, bidding us a last 
and long farewell, as the ship stood on her course into the open 
sea. 
The perfect equality among the individuals composing the 
Fuegian tribes must for a long time retard their civilisation. 
As we see those animals, whose instinct compels them to live in 
society and obey a chief, are most capable of improvement, so 
is it with the races of mankind. Whether we look at it as a 
cause or a consequence, the more civilised always have the most 
artificial governments. For instance, the inhabitants of Otaheite, 
who, when first discovered, were governed by hereditary kings, 
had arrived at a far higher grade than another branch of the 
same people, the New Zealanders,—who, although benefited by 
being compelled to turn their attention to agriculture, were 
republicans in the most absolute sense. In Tierra del Fuego, 
until some chief shall arise with power sufficient to secure any 
acquired advantage, such as the domesticated animals, it seems 
scarcely possible that the political state of the country can be 
improved. At present, even a piece of cloth given to one is 
torn into shreds and distributed ; and no one individual becomes 
richer than another. On the other hand, it is difficult to under¬ 
stand how a chief can arise till there is property of some sort 
by which he might manifest his superiority and increase his 
power. 
I believe, in this extreme part of South America, man exists 
in a lower state of improvement than in any other part of the 
world. The South Sea Islanders of the two races inhabiting 
the Pacific are comparatively civilised. The Esquimaux, in his 
subterranean hut, enjoys some of the comforts of life, and in his 
canoe, when fully equipped, manifests much skill. Some of the 
