[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
Sin,—The article on "The Eyesight of Savages" in your issue of the 17th inst. recalled to my mind the following
extract from Darwin's "Naturalist's Voyage Round the World." He is referring to two Fuegians on board H.M.S. 'Beagle' :— "Their sight was remarkably acute. It is well-known that sailors, from long practice, can make out a distant object much better than a landsman. But both York and Jemmy were much superior to any sailor on board : several times they have declared what some distant object has been, and though doubted by every one, they have proved right when it has been examined through a telescope. They were quite conscious of this power : and Jemmy, when he had any little quarrel with the officer on watch would say Me see ship, me no tell.'"
In this instance you have the test of two savages—York, a full-grown man, and Jemmy Button, a boy—against a whole crew of English sailors.—I am, Sir, &c., WILLIAM Davis. 73 Park Drive South, Victoria Park.
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