Fuegians at Tilly Bay. 1 1 9 



• 

 to show us all their properties, even to the much-cherished 

 materials for producing fire. These were kept in a wooden box 

 somewhat of the shape of a small band-box, and made of Winter's 

 bark sewn together roughly with strips of hide. The tinder, 

 which seemed to consist of dried moss, was stowed away carefully 

 in little bags formed of dried seal's intestines tied up at the 

 ends. 



I also obtained by barter two very dirty bits of iron pyrites 

 which they used for igniting the tinder, and on striking them 

 together they certainly emitted showers of sparks. The box also 

 contained glass arrow-heads, glass spear-heads, bone harpoon- 

 heads, a noose made of a strip of baleen and apparently 

 intended for trapping otters, and a very strong net made out 

 of seal-hide, which the old man gave us to understand was 

 used for catching seals. The net was nearly square, measuring 

 about six feet both ways, and the meshes were about eight 

 inches across. This last was evidently considered a great work 

 of art, for as the old man displayed it his eyes glittered with 

 pride, and he assumed an air of importance, as if to imply — 

 "See that and die!" 



Subsequently two more canoes turned up, bringing a large party 

 of natives, and as I was curious to ascertain the method by which 

 they fashioned their glass implements, I visited the encampment 

 one day, bringing with me an empty pickle bottle, and intimated 

 by signs that I wished to have it broken up and to see a spear- 

 head or arrow-head made. They understood readily enough what 

 was required, and one of the men, coming forward, took hold of the 

 bottle, smashed it against the stones, and selecting a suitable 

 fragment, set to work at it. He held the piece of glass firmly in 

 his left hand, protecting the fingers with a bit of cloth, while, with 

 his right, he grasped a chipping tool, which consisted of a large 

 blunt-pointed iron nail fixed in a stout wooden handle, serving the 

 double purpose of a chipping tool and a means of calking the 

 seams of the canoe. Holding it with the iron point directed 



