184 



FOOD WEAPONS. 



The food of the Fuegians has been mentioned so often in 

 the preceding pages of this or the former volume, that I will 

 only add here a few remarks which have not hitherto been 

 made. When there is time, the natives roast their sheU-fish, 

 and half-roast any other food that is of a solid nature ; but 

 when in haste, they eat fish, as well as meat, in a raw state. A 

 seal is considered to be a grand prize ; for, besides the flesh, 

 they feast on the oil ; and a porpoise is much valued, for a 

 similar reason. Seal are often killed on the rocks, by striking 

 them on the nose with a club, or large stick : and rather than let 

 a seal go, which has been intercepted by getting between it and 

 the water, they will risk having a severe bite by attacking it 

 with a stone in hand. Both seal and porpoises are speared by 

 them from their canoes. When struck, the fish usually run 

 into the kelp, with the spear floating on the water, being 

 attached by a short line to a moveable barb ; and there the 

 men follow with their canoe, seize the spear, and tow by it till 

 the fish is dead. To them, the taking of a seal or porpoise is a 

 matter of as much consequence as the capture of a whale is to 

 our countrymen. On moonlight nights, birds are caught when 

 roosting, not only by the men but by their dogs, which are 

 sent out to seize them Avhile asleep upon the rocks or beach ; 

 and so well are these dogs trained, that they bring all they 

 catch safely to their masters, without making any noise, and 

 then return for another mouthful. Birds are also frequently 

 killed with arrows,* or by stones slung at them with unerring 

 aim. Eggs are eagerly sought for by the natives ; indeed, I 

 may say that they eat any thing and every thing that is eatable, 

 without being particular as to its state of freshness, or as to 

 its having been near the fire. Penguins are much prized ; the 

 otter is also valued, excepting the body part, which they seldom 



* These arrows are of hard wood, well polished, and quite straight. 

 They are about two feet in length, and in a notch at the point have a 

 sharp triangular piece of agate, obsidian, or broken glass; which is not 

 permanently fixed, and therefore remains in a wound, though the shaft 

 may be drawn out. The bow is from three to four feet long, quite plain, 

 with a string made of twisted sinews. 



