t is well ascertained that they take no
sustenance whatever on shore. I examined the contents of the stomach of
one they had just killed, but could not make out the nature of what it
contained. The matter was of a remarkably bright green colour. They have
many enemies, even in the water; one called the killer, a species of
grampus, which makes terrible havoc amongst them, and will attack and
take away the carcass of one from alongside a boat. But man is their
greatest enemy, and causes the most destruction to their race: he
pursues them to all quarters of the globe.

VISIT FROM THE NATIVES AT TERRA DEL FUEGO.

During our stay, we had, at various times, visits from the natives. They
were all at first very shy, but after they found our friendly
disposition towards them, they became more sociable and confiding.

On the 11th of March three bark canoes arrived, containing four men,
four women, and a girl about sixteen years old, four little boys and
four infants, one of the latter about a week old, and quite naked. They
had rude weapons, viz. slings to throw stones, three rude spears,
pointed at the end with bone, and notched on one side with barbed teeth.
With this they catch their fish, which are in great quantities among the
kelp. Two of the natives were induced to come on board, after they had
been alongside for upwards of an hour, and received many presents, for
which they gave their spears, a dog, and some of their rude native
trinkets. They did not shew or express surprise at anything on board,
except when seeing one of the carpenters engaged in boring a hole with a
screw-auger through a plank, which would have been a long task for them.
They were very talkative, smiling when spoken to, and often bursting
into loud laughter, but instantly settling into their natural serious
and sober cast.

They were found to be great mimics, both in gesture and sound, and would
repeat any word of our language, with great correctness of
pronunciation. Their imitations of sounds were truly astonishing.

Their mimicry became at length annoying, and precluded our getting at
any of their words or ideas. It not only extended to words or sounds,
but actions also, and was at times truly ridiculous. The usual manner of
interrogating for names was quite unsuccessful. On pointing to the nose,
for instance, they did the same. Anything they saw done they would
mimic, and with an extraordinary degree of accuracy. On these canoes
appro