STEAITS OF MAGELLAN. 551 



streaming out before the gale, and we could make out through 

 the rain the forms of the natives around them. 



At Sandy Point there were two Fuegian girls and a boy, 

 who had been picked up in a canoe by a Chilian war-vessel. I 

 was struck by the ruddy colour of the cheeks of the girls, which 

 closely resembles that of Japanese women, especially that of 

 many older ones. Two Fuegian men who belonged to a Mission 

 schooner at the Falkland Islands did not show any ruddy colour, 

 but were of a uniform light-yellowish brown. 



The girls and the boy slept huddled together in a heap, and 

 curled up for warmth. The girls were photographed by the 

 " Challenger " photographer. They were very shy and suspicious, 

 and both put one of their fingers in their mouths during the 

 process, on three successive occasions, that being evidently with 

 them the natural mode of expressing shyness. 



There were no Patagonians at the Sandy Point settlement at 

 the time of the ship's visit. We were told that they visit the set- 

 tlement at intervals to sell their Guanacho robes. When the tribe 

 arrives at a short distance from the settlement, a messenger is sent 

 forward to tell the Chilian Governor that the tribe is coming 

 on a certain day, and expects a salute to be fired. As they ap- 

 proach accordingly, a salute is fired from the fort, and they ride 

 in, making their horses caper, and showing off their horsemanship. 



When they have stayed some time in the settlement, and 

 have sold their robes and spent the money, mostly in drink, 

 they send word that they are going, and require another salute, 

 and as everyone is very glad to get rid of them, and they will 

 not go without it, they are again saluted, and depart to hunt the 

 Guanaco a^ain. 



After leaving Punta Arenas, we landed at Elizabeth Island, 

 which is without trees, but covered with grass, and is likely soon 

 to be occupied as a sheep-run. The island is the breeding- 

 place of large numbers of Wild Geese (Chloephaga Patagonicha). 

 The geese were very abundant, and a wild-goose-chase in Elizabeth 

 Island is a very different matter from one at home. When I 

 had shot nine geese I found that I had no light task before me 

 in carrying them to the boat at the end of the island, over 

 the soft and yielding soil. Goose-shooting in the Falkland 



