Year 1836 - JEMMY BUTTON from Yagan to English

Captain Fitz Roy, in command of the "Beagle", spent a long time in the Magellanic archipelago and the Fuegian channels, carrying out hydrographic surveys. Apart from the preparation of maps, he studied the aboriginal races of the channels, mainly the Fuegians, whom he classified into four groups: Tekeenicas, Pechera, Huemul and Aliculip.

He was on his ship in the channels of Tierra del Fuego when the Indians stole a whaling boat from him. Fitz Roy pursued them to find the thieves, and, in order to facilitate the search, he took on board as interpreters four natives, three men and a woman named Jeimmy Button, York Minster, Boat Memory and Fueguía Basquet, all of them young, noting that Fueguina was a girl.

The search for the longboat failed and Fitz Roy continued his hydrographic work south of Tierra del Fuego. Meanwhile, he became fond of his captives, and when the time came to return, as he did not have the time to leave them in their native land, he took them to England.

Fitz Roy's intention was to civilize them and that after a few years they would return capable of educating the other Indians. The Fuegians spent almost three years in England. They learned to read and write and some trades. Fitz Roy introduced them to Queen Adelaide, who showered them with gifts. Boat Memory died of a rare disease.

After the work of the previous expedition was finished at the Admiralty offices, Fitz Roy returned to Tierra del Fuego in the "Beagle" and brought back the natives. Jemmy Button was his darling. The English captain loved him very much, placing great hopes in him, which were never fulfilled. On the contrary, when they returned to the channels, they returned to their nomadic and wild life. A few weeks after leaving them in Wulaia, Fitz Roy saw Jemmy again, transformed into a savage, naked and with long hair, rowing in the canoes.

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