The Cannibal Islands | Page 4

is called phosphoric
light. Something of the same kind may be seen in the carcass of a
decaying fish if taken into a dark room.
Not long after this, they saw flying-fish. Cook says that when seen
from the cabin windows they were beautiful beyond imagination, their
sides having the colour and brightness of burnished silver. When seen

from the deck they did not look so beautiful, because their backs were
of a dark colour. It must not be supposed that these fish could fly about
in the air like birds. They can only fly a few yards at a time. They
usually rise suddenly from the waves, fly as if in a great hurry, not
more than a yard or two above the surface, and then drop as suddenly
back into the sea as they rose out of it. The two fins near the shoulders
of the fish are very long, so that they can be used as wings for these
short flights. When chased by their enemy, the dolphin, flying-fish
usually take a flight in order to escape. They do not, however, appear to
be able to use their eyes when out of the water, for they have been seen
to fly against ships at sea, get entangled in the rigging, and fall helpless
on the deck. They are not quite so large as a herring, and are considered
very good eating.
On drawing near to Cape Horn, on the extreme south of South America,
the voyagers began to prepare for bad weather, for this Cape is
notorious for its storms. Few mariners approach the Horn without some
preparation, for many a good ship has gone to the bottom in the gales
that blow there.
It was here that they first fell in with savages. The ship having
approached close to that part of the land named Tierra del Fuego,
natives were observed on shore. As Mr Banks and Dr Solander were
anxious to visit them, a boat was lowered and sent ashore. They landed
near a bay in the lee of some rocks where the water was smooth. Thirty
or forty of the Indians soon made their appearance at the end of a sandy
beach on the other side of the bay, but seeing that there were twelve
Europeans in the boat they were afraid, and retreated. Mr Banks and Dr
Solander then advanced about one hundred yards, on which two of the
Indians returned, and, having advanced some paces, sat down. As soon
as the gentlemen came up the savages rose and each threw away a
small stick which he had carried in his hand. This was intended for a
sign of peace. They then walked briskly towards their companions, who
had halted about fifty yards behind them, and beckoned the gentlemen
to follow, which they did. They were received with many uncouth signs
of friendship, and, in return, gave the savages some beads and ribbons,
which greatly delighted them.

A feeling of good-will having been thus established, the two parties
joined and tried to hold converse by means of signs. Three of the
Indians agreed to accompany them back to the ship, and when they got
on board one of the wild visitors began to go through some
extraordinary antics. When he was taken to any new part of the ship, or
when he was shown any new thing, he shouted with all his force for
some minutes, without directing his voice either to the people of the
ship or to his companions.
Some beef and bread being given to them, they ate it, but did not seem
to relish it much. Nevertheless, such of it as they did not eat they took
away with them. But they would not swallow a drop either of wine or
spirits. They put the glass to their lips, but, having tasted the liquor,
they returned it with looks of disgust.
Cook says he was much surprised at the want of curiosity in these
savages of the Cape, and seems to have formed a very low opinion of
them. They were conducted all over the ship, yet, although they saw a
vast number of beautiful and curious things that must have been quite
new to them, they did not give vent to any expression of wonder or
pleasure--for the howling above spoken of did not seem to be either,--
and when they returned to land they did not seem anxious to tell what
they had seen, neither did their comrades appear desirous of hearing
anything about their visit to the ship. Altogether, they seemed a much
lower race of people than the inhabitants of the South-Sea Islands
whom Cook afterwards visited.
CHAPTER THREE.
DESCRIBES AN ADVENTURE IN THE MOUNTAINS, AND
TELLS OF TIERRA DEL FUEGO.
One of the main objects that