296 TIERRA DEL FUEGO. 



whose instinct compels them to Hve in society and 

 obey a chief, are most capable of improvement, so 

 is it with the races of mankind. Whether we look 

 at it as a cause or a consequence, the more civil- 

 ized always have the most artificial governments. 

 For instance, the inhabitants of Otaheite, who, 

 when first discov^ered, were governed by heredi- 

 tary kings, had arrived at a far higher grade than 

 another branch of the same people, the New Zea- 

 landers, who, although benefited by being com- 

 pelled to turn their attention to agriculture, were 

 republicans in the most absolute sense. In Tierra 

 del Fuego, until some chief shall arise ^vith power 

 sufficient to secure any acquired advantage, such as 

 the domesticated animals, it seems scarcely possi- 

 ble that the political state of the country can be 

 improved. At present, even a piece of cloth given 

 to one is torn into shreds and distributed, and no 

 one individual becomes richer than another. On 

 the other hand, it is difficult to understand how a 

 chief can ai'ise till there is property of some sort 

 by which he might manifest his superiority and in- 

 crease his power. 



I believe, in this extreme part of South Ameri- 

 ca, man exists in a lower state of improvement than 

 in any part of the world. The South Sea Island- 

 ers of the two races inhabiting the Pacific are 

 comparatively civilized. The Esquimaux, in his 

 subtei'ranean hut, enjoys some of the comforts of 

 life, and in his canoe, when fully equipped, man- 

 ifests much skill. Some of the tribes of Southern 

 Africa, prowling about in search of roots, and liv- 

 ing concealed on the wild and arid plains, are suf- 

 ficiently wretched. The Australian, in the simpli- 

 city of the arts of life, comes nearest the Fuegian : 

 he can, however, boast of his boomerang, his spear 

 and throwing-stick, his method of climbing trees, 



