Here lies the Beagle at anchor in the Beagle Channel, which got its name only later on. A moment of rest from the gigantic storms nearly always present in these areas.  From her the explorations were carried out in smaller boats. The story of the Fuegians: In an earlier visit by FitzRoy to Tierra del Fuego the natives had stolen a boat. To get this back the crew took four Fuegians as hostages. But this plan did not work and FitzRoy decided to take the Fuegians with him to England with the intention to learn them English and to teach them some civilisation. One of them died and there remained: York Minster (27), Jemmy Button (15) and Fuegia Basket (10). They succeeded to learn some English in one year and they could eat using a knife and fork. Darwin had been amazed that 'the wildest people on Earth' could adapt in so short a time. These three Fuegians had now to be brought back to their homeland.

During an exploration in the inhospitable, steep Beagle Channel the trio was landed together with a missionary in the area where the tribe lived. Some cottages were built and small gardens were prepared hoping to teach the Fuegians some agriculture. The wild Fuegians looked on from a distance ... After that the expedition went on further into the Beagle Channel. After nine days they returned to examen the situation. All properties had diappeared (they had become common property), the four people had been threatened and robbed, but not ill-treated. The missionary was discouraged and wanted to go back on board, but the Fuegians decided to stay: Jemmy disappointed and York and Fuegia as husband and wife. Know more? Jemmy Button

Darwin 16

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