Aboriginal Race of America. 157 
of the attack, came forth from the city in several thousand 
boats, these were so feebly constructed, and managed with 
so little dexterity, that in a few hours they were all destroyed, 
dispersed, or taken by the enemy. 
Turning from the Mexicans, we naturally look to the Pe- 
ruvians for some further advances in nautical skill; but al- 
though their country was comparatively a narrow strip of 
land, with an extended frontier on the ocean, we find even 
here the same primitive vessels and the same timid naviga- 
tors. Itis indeed questionable whether they ever designedly 
lost sight of land; nor does it appear that they made the sea 
subservient to their conquests. These were uniformly prose- 
cuted by land, excepting perhaps those of the Incas, in their 
efforts to subdue the fierce islanders of Titicaca; but even 
the partial pen of Garcilaso limits all these inventions to log 
canoes and rafts of reeds; nor does it appear that the inge- 
nuity of these people, so abundantly displayed on many other 
occasions, had ever added an improvement to the primeval 
germ of navigation. 
Nor are those tribes which depend almost wholly on fish 
for their daily subsistence, much better provided than the 
others. The Chenouks and other nations on the western 
coast of America, have boats hewn with comparative inge- 
nuity from a single plank, and compared to a butcher’s tray ; 
but in these frail vessels they keep cautiously within sight of 
land, and never venture on the water unless the weather is 
favourable to their enterprize. It is to be observed, however, 
that when the Indians are compelled to carry their boats 
across portages from river to river, they construct them of 
birch bark, and with a degree of ingenuity and adaptation 
much above their usual resources. Thus, boats that would 
carry nine men do not weigh over sixty pounds, and are there- 
fore conveyed with ease to considerable distances. This is 
almost the only deviation from the log canoe, and is equally 
characteristic; for it is common among the interior Indians 
_ of both North and South America, and was noticed by De 
Solis in the Mexican provinces. 
Inferior in these respects to the other tribes are the Fue- 
gians; a people whom perpetual exposure and privation, and 
