542 DRESS. FIRE. 



the central tribes the men generally possess an otter-skin, 

 or some small scrap about as large as a pocket-handkerchief, 

 which is barely sufficient to cover their backs as low down 

 as their loins. It is laced across the breast by strings, and 

 'according as the wind blows, it is shifted from side to side."* 

 Many, however, even of the women, go absolutely without 

 clothes. Yet, as Captain Cook quaintly expresses it, "al- 

 though they are content to be naked, they are very ambitious 

 to be fine ;" for which purpose they adorn themselves with 

 streaks of red, black, and white ; and the men as well as the 

 women wear bracelets and anklets of shell and bone. Sir 

 J. D. Hooker informs us that at the extreme south of Tierra 

 del Fuego, and in mid-winter, he has often seen the men lying 

 asleep in their wigwams, without a scrap of clothing, and the 

 women standing naked, and some with children at their 

 breasts, in the water up to their middles, gathering limpets 

 and other shell-fish, while the snow fell thickly on them and 

 on their equally naked babies. In fact, fire does not appear 

 to be necessary with them, nor do they use it to warm the air 

 of their huts as we do, though sometimes as a luxury they 

 take advantage of it to toast their hands or feet. Doubtless, 

 however, if deprived of this source of warmth, they would die 

 of starvation rather oftener than is now the case. 



If not the lowest, the Fuegians certainly appear to be 

 among the most miserable specimens of the human race, and 

 the habits of this people are of especial interest from their 

 probable similarity to those of the ancient Danish shell- 

 mound builders, who, however, were in some respects rather 

 more advanced, being acquainted with the art of making 

 pottery. 



* Darwin's Researches in Geology and Natural History, p. 234. 



