The first edition of this book is dated 1884. The edition used is dated 1885. The publisher was Frederick Warne and Co., London. The number of pages is 239.

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General information

As we are told in the Preface, this is the last book Reid wrote before his death in 1883. A young farm-boy walks down to Portsmouth, a port not too far away, and eventually gets taken on as a hand on an American barque, trading with the Pacific. Four years later he has risen to be second mate. But when rounding Cape Horn a severe storm overwhelms the vessel, and she is lost after springing a very bad leak. All on board take to the boats, but the pinnace gets separated from the gig, on which our heroes have made their escape. The ship’s carpenter, an old and experienced seaman, a former whaler, has an extraordinary amount of knowledge of the natives of Tierra del Fuego—the Land of Fire—for that is where they are. Without that knowledge the party would not have survived. Unfortunately this great seaman (somewhat after the style of Masterman Ready) does not speak in educated English, but you will just have to get used to that.

There are various encounters with the tribes of the region, all very well told. Eventually, shortly after their most serious brush with the locals, they reach a large vessel at anchor, and the pinnace alongside her, so that they are saved.

Reid, being a good naturalist, tells us a good deal about the local flora and fauna. We also learn how to make fire in a land where it rains five days in six. His account of the local tribes, their skills and their shortcomings, will give you much food for thought. And the book makes a very nice audiobook.

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Contents

Chapter I.
“The Sea! The Sea! The Open Sea!“

Chapter II.
The Star-Spangled Banner.

Chapter III.
Portsmouth Mud-Larks.

Chapter IV.
Off the “Furies.“

Chapter V.
The Castaways.

Chapter VI.
A Battle with Birds.

Chapter VII.
A World on a Weed.

Chapter VIII.
A Flurry with Fur-Seals.

Chapter IX.
An Unnatural Mother.

Chapter X.
Saved by a Williwaw.

Chapter XI.
Why “Land of Fire.“

Chapter XII.
A Catastrophe Not Anticipated.

Chapter XIII.
A Change of Quarters determined on.

Chapter XIV.
A Fuegian Fish-Hunt.

Chapter XV.
A Rough Overland Route.

Chapter XVI.
By the “Kitchen Midden.“

Chapter XVII.
Unwelcome Visitors.

Chapter XVIII.
Fuegian Food-Providing.

Chapter XIX.
An Odd Renewal of Acquaintance.

Chapter XX.
Gone back to Barbarism.

Chapter XXI.
Boat Ahoy!

Chapter XXII.
Tekeneeka Hospitality.

Chapter XXIII.
The Dreaded Oensmen.

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