l68 PRIMEVAL MAN. 



mass of wild rocks, lofty hills, and useless 

 forests ; and these are viewed through mists 

 and endless storms. The habitable land is 

 reduced to the stones of the beach. In search 

 of food they are compelled to wander un- 

 . ceasingly from spot to spot, and so steep is 

 the coast that they can only move about in 

 their wretched canoes." They are habitual 

 cannibals, killing and eating their old women 

 before they kill their dogs, for the sufficient 

 reason, as explained by themselves — "Doggies 

 catch otters, old women no." Of some of these 

 people who came round the Beagle in their 

 canoes, the same author says — " These were 

 the most wretched and miserable creatures 

 I anywhere beheld. They were quite naked, 

 and even one full-grown woman was absolutely 



