e sea, which divide them into
numerous islets, the larger ones bearing stunted forests of beech and
birch, on the skirts of hills covered with perpetual snow, and sending
down blue glaciers to the water's edge. The narrower channels are very
shallow; the wider, rough and storm-tossed; and scarcely anything edible
grows on the islands. The Fuegians are as degraded a people as any on
the face of the earth, with just intelligence enough to maintain
themselves by hunting and fishing, by the help of dogs, which, it is
said, they prize so much that they would rather, in time of scarcity, eat
up an old mother than a dog; and they are churlishly inhospitable to
strangers, although with an unusual facility for imitating their
language, nor had any one ever attempted their conversion.

However, the master of the _Montgomery_, who had brought the Gardiners
out to the Falkland Islands, hearing of the offer, undertook such a
profitable expedition; but his schooner was utterly frail, had to be
caulked and to borrow a sail, and, as he was losing no whales, Captain
Gardiner refused to give more than 100_l._, a sufficiently exorbitant
sum, for the passage of himself and a servant named Johnstone. While the
crazy vessel was refitting a Sunday intervened, during which he offered
to hold a service, but only two men attended it, the rest were all absent
or intoxicated.

The poor little ship put to sea, and struggled into the Straits of
Magelhaen, drifting near the Fuegian coast. Landing, the Captain lighted
a fire to attract the attention of the natives, and some came down and
shouted. The English did not, however, think it safe to go further from
the boat, and presently the Fuegians likewise kindled their fire,
whereupon Gardiner heaped more fuel on his own, and continued his
signals, when two men advanced, descending to the beach. They were clad
in cloaks of the skin of the guanaco, a small kind of llama, and were
about five feet ten in height, with broad shoulders and chests, but lean,
disproportionate legs. Each carried a bow and quiver of arrows; and they
spoke loudly, making evident signs that the strangers were unwelcome.
Presents were offered them; brass buttons, a clasp knife, and worsted
comforter; and they sat down, but apparently with a sullen resolution not
to relax their faces, nor utter another word. A small looking-glass was
handed to one of them, and he was grimly putting it under his cloak when
Captain Gardiner he