180 BUEEAU OF AMEEICAN ETHNOLOGY [bull. 63 



implements, ti-aps, etc., are of very simple construction; tlie one 

 notable exception, the plank boat, is in all probability of Araucanian 

 oiigin. 



As a hunter the Fuegian is keen, quick-udtted, and intelligent. 

 The Fuegian brain is not distinctly inferior in development to the 

 European (Manouvrier, c; Seitz, h; Duckworth, 440). Some Onas 

 and Yahgans have shown considerable aptitude at learning to speak 

 and even to read and write European languages (Dy, 271; Despard, 

 h, 747; Marsh, a, 131; Darwin, «,, 1871 ed., 208; O. Nordenskjold, li, 

 Tour du monde, 34; Bcnignus, 234; Dabbene, h, 267; Holmberg, a, 

 66; Fr. Cook, h, 724). A certain talent for drawing is also manifested 

 (Dy, 271; Cojazzi, 99). See especially two cases of rather remark- 

 able mental progress among the Yahgans in Dy, 271. 



It is doubtful whether any of the Fuegian languages has words foi' 

 iiumbei"s above three; the languages are poor in a})stract tei-ms and 

 rich in concretes. No kind of writing exists, not even by notches, 

 sticks, pictographs, etc. The nearest approach to such is symbolic 

 face and body paintmg. 



In general the Fuegians, like other peoples of equally low culture, 

 are backward and uneducated in the white man's learning, but sldllfid 

 and intelligent enough in their own. Fair mental capacity is pres- 

 ent, but lies fallow or rather is planted with an inferior grain. 



ESTHETIC CULTURE 



Sources 



Nearly all writers have had something to say on this branch of 

 Fuegian culture; the chief sources are given passim in the following 



text. 



Music and Songs 



The songs of the Fuegians and Chonos are extremely simple, 

 monotonous, melancholic chants, with or without words (cf. for the 

 Chonos: Garcia, a, 29.; for the Alacaluf: Vargas Ponce, h, 29; Cun- 

 ningham, 446; for the Yahgans: Th. Bridges, a, Fr. tr., 177-178; 

 Dabbene, b, 197; Hyades, p, 330; Lo\dsato, h, 145; Outes, d, 139; 

 Spegazzmi, a, 13; Wilkes, h, 51-52; Furlong, h* 135-136; o,* phono- 

 graphic records; Martial,* 209-211, including four melodies put on 

 scale; Hyades, 5,* 214-215; Wilkes, a* vol. i, 129-131, 1845 ed., 

 I, 125, 127; for the Onas: Dabbene, 6, 263; Lista, h, 95, 130* [prob- 

 ably Manekenkn]; Segers, 76; Furlong, o* phonographic records; 

 C. Gallardo,* 162-163). The Yahgans had certain songs, each called 

 after the name of a bird, etc. (Th. Bridges, a, Fr. tr., 178). 



There is no musical instrument at all among either the Fuegians 

 or Chonos, uidess we may dignify with that name the long thick ])oles 

 used by the Yahgans to beat time with during the d(nitli chant (Fur- 



