trange, and even improbable, it is,
nevertheless, quite reasonable. How it came about will be learned from
the following relation of facts:--

In the year 1838, the English Admiral Fitzroy--then Captain Fitzroy--
while in command of H.M.S. _Beagle_, engaged in the survey of Tierra del
Fuego, had one of his boats stolen by the natives of Christmas Sound.
Pursuing the thieves, he made capture of a number of their relatives,
but unfortunately not of the actual culprits. For a time he held the
captives as hostages, hoping by that means to effect the return of the
boat. Disappointed in this, however, he at length released them all,
save three who voluntarily remained on board the _Beagle_.

These were two young men and a little girl; and all of them were soon
after baptised by the sailors. One of the men had the name "Boat
Memory" bestowed upon him, because he had been taken at the place where
the boat was stolen. The other was christened "York Minster," after a
remarkable mountain, bearing a fancied resemblance to the famed
cathedral of York, near which he was captured. "Fuegia Basket," as the
girl was called, was named from the wickerwork craft--a sort of
coracle--that the crew of the stolen boat had improvised to carry them
back to their ship.

Later on, the commander of the _Beagle_, while exploring the channel
which now bears his ship's name, picked up another native of a different
tribe. This was a young boy, who was bought of his own uncle for a
button--his unnatural relative freely parting with him at the price!
The transaction suggested the name given him, "Jemmy Button."

Returning soon after to England, Fitzroy, with truly philanthropic
motives, took the four Fuegians along with him. His intentions were to
have them educated and Christianised, and then restored to their native
country, in hopes that they might do something toward civilising it. In
pursuance of this plan, three of the Fuegians were put to school; the
fourth, Boat Memory, having died soon after landing at Plymouth.

When Captain Fitzroy thought their training sufficiently advanced for
his purpose, this humane officer, at his own expense, chartered a vessel
to convey them back to Tierra del Fuego, intending to accompany them
himself; and he did this, although a poor man, and no longer commanding
a ship in commission; the _Beagle_, meanwhile, having been dismantled
and laid up. Think of that, my young readers, and give praise to such
no