218 IDLE DAYS IN PATAGONIA 



sign of becoming obsolete. Moreover, that first 

 correlation, namely, milk-glands and a hairy cov- 

 ering, appears to have entered the very soul of 

 creatures of this class, and to have become psychi- 

 cal as well as physical, for in that type, which is 

 only inferior to the angels, the fondness for this 

 kind of outer covering is a strong and ineradicable 

 passion." I am not sure that this view accords 

 with some facts in our experience, and with some 

 instinctive feelings which we all have. Like Wa- 

 terton I have found that the feet take very kindly 

 to the earth, however hot or cold or rough it may 

 be, and that shoes, after being left off for a short 

 time, seem as uncomfortable as a mask. The face 

 is always uncovered ; why does the supposed cor- 

 relation not apply to this part? The face is pleas- 

 antly warm when the too delicate body shivers 

 with cold under its covering; and pleasantly cool 

 when the sun shines hot on us. When the wind 

 strikes us on a hot day, or during violent exer- 

 cise, the sensation to the face is extremely agree- 

 able, but far from agreeable to the body where 

 the covering does not allow the moisture to evapo- 

 rate rapidly. The umbrella has not entered the 

 soul not yet ; but it is miserable to get wet in the 

 rain, yet pleasant to feel the rain on the face. "I 

 am all face, ' ' the naked American savage said, to 

 explain why he felt no discomfort from the bleak 

 wind which made his civilized fellow-traveler 

 shiver in his furs. Again, what a relief, what a 

 pleasure, to throw off the clothes when occasion 



