As, however, we were not likely to find spars large enough for the purpose in this part of the world, it was necessary to make use of the broken one.  While this work was going on, it was resolved to hold some communication with the natives.  A boat was lowered, under charge of Mr Brand--Gerard and I and Mr McRitchie going in her, and two hands, as no more could be spared from attending to the repairs of the ship.  We were all armed, but the captain directed us to be very careful in our intercourse with the wild people we might meet.  We had with us some trinkets, glass necklaces, bracelets, rings, gilt lockets, knives, scissors, and other trifles, to barter with them, or to win their good-will.  After pulling some way, we reached a sandy cove surrounded with trees of good height, and a quantity of brushwood below them.  We saw several wigwams among the trees, and two canoes hauled up on the beach.  Beyond the wood were ranges of high hills, the nearest ascending almost precipitously from the water, while those further off were worthy of the name of mountains.  It was altogether a very beautiful and attractive scene--the more so, that it was totally unexpected in that region.  No natives were visible, so we ran the boat on shore, and landed.  The wigwams were in shape like those of the North American Indians composed of a number of long sticks stuck in the ground in a circle, and bending inwards till their other ends met, and were secured together with a band.  Instead of being covered with birch bark, these were thatched very neatly with dry grass or reeds, and formed very warm abodes.  In the centre a pile of ashes showed where their fires were placed.  Their canoes were very like those of North America, being built of bark, with ribs neatly formed, and kept in shape by several beams athwartships secured to the gunwale.  Near the wigwams were two other partly finished canoes.  While we were examining these rude habitations and means of locomotion, a shout from the two men left in the boat made us look up, and in an opening in the wood we saw some dozen or more savages advancing stealthily towards us.  Mr Brand, the instant he saw them, told us to fall back behind him; and he then advanced alone, patting his stomach,--the sign of amity among these people.  It is as much as to say, I suppose, "I have had a good dinner, and I hope that you have had one also."  They, in return, all shouted and gesticulated most vehemently, pointing to their mouths in their eagerness to speak, not being aware, probably, that we did not understand a word they said; however, at last they began to pat their stomachs, and then we knew that all was right.  Accordingly we advanced to meet them, patting our stomachs with one hand, and holding out the other to grasp theirs.  They were of a brownish copper colour, well formed and athletic, with long shaggy hair--their only clothing being a piece of skin thrown over one shoulder.  In such a climate as that of Terra del Fuego, their being able to go without clothes shows that they must be of a very hardy nature.  We were soon surrounded by some thirty or more of these very unprepossessing gentlemen, all talking most furiously to us or at us, some patting us on the back, and others examining our handkerchiefs, and caps, and buttons, or any article of our dress they could get hold of. We patted them on the back in return, but as they had no clothes, we took hold of their hair and admired it; and Jerry must needs catch one fellow by the nose, and assured him that he had a very handsome nob!  In this way we in a short time became excellent friends, though, as we had no interpreter, we could only communicate with each other by signs. When they found that we did not understand what they said, they hallooed louder and louder; and as they had voices of most stentorian power, they at last spoke to us in a perfect roar, till they almost deafened us!  By their tones we fancied that they were saying, "Well, if you cannot understand that, you must be desperately stupid fellows."