48 Cruise of the "Alert." 



alluded to, are, I think, to be attributed to a slow but steady 

 sliding motion of the soilcap over its rocky foundation on the 

 sloping hillsides, a motion which is in many respects analogous to 

 the flow of a glacier. 



Of the natives inhabiting the Patagonian channels between the 

 Gulf of Penas and Smyth's channels, very little is known ; and I 

 am the more inclined to attempt a description of their physical 

 characteristics and habits of life, because of all the savage tribes 

 of whom I have had experience — including the Australian abo- 

 rigines, who are generally credited with being of the lowest 

 order — I believe that the people whom I am about to describe 

 bear away the palm as the most primitive among all the varieties 

 of the human species. They are certainly closely related to the 

 Fuegians who live south of the main Straits of Magellan, from 

 whom, however, they differ sufficiently to show a tribal distinction. 

 Fitzroy, in enumerating six tribes of Fuegians, denominates those 

 of whom I speak as * the Channel or Chonos tribe." They lead 

 a wandering life, constantly shifting in their canoes from place to 

 place, and travelling in families of about twelve individuals, all 

 of whom stow in the same canoe, and sleep in the same hut. 

 We have never been able to ascertain the precise relationship 

 existing between the different members of these families ; but a 

 party of twelve would probably consist of three men, five women, 

 and four children. 



For the greater part of the year they live almost entirely on 

 mussels and limpets, this simple fare being only varied occasion- 

 ally by the capture of a seal, a small otter, or of an equally small 

 coypu. That they get this kind of fresh meat but rarely is 

 evident from our inspection of their midden heaps, hillocks of 

 refuse in the vicinity of the huts, consisting mainly of shells. I 

 must not omit to mention, however, that bones of the steamer- 

 duck and cormorant are also found about the huts, but not in 

 any quantity. During the months of December and January, the 

 Magellan seals " haul up" to breed on the rocks of the outer 



