dan. 1827. FUEGIAN INDIANS. 23 
Tracks of foxes were numerous about the beach, and the 
footsteps of a large quadruped, probably a puma, were observed. 
Some teal and wild ducks were shot ; and several geese were 
seen, but, being very wary, they escaped. 
Upon Point St. Mary we noticed, for the first time, three 
or four huts or wigwams made by the Fuegian Indians, which 
had been deserted. They were not old, and merely required 
a slight covering of branches or skins to make them habit- 
able. These wigwams are thus constucted: long slender 
branches, pointed at the end, are stuck into the ground in a 
circular or oval figure; their extremities are bent over, so as 
to form a rounded roof, and secured with ligatures of rush ; 
leaving two apertures, one towards the sea, and the other 
towards the woods. The fire is made in the middle, and 
half fills the hut with smoke. There were no Indians in 
the bay when we arrived, but, on the following evening, 
Lieutenant Sholl, in walking towards the south end of the 
bay, suddenly found himself close to a party which had just 
arrived in two canoes from the southward. Approaching 
them, he found there were nine individuals—three men, and 
the remainder women and children. One of the women was 
very old, and so infirm as to require to be lifted out of the canoe 
and carried to the fire. ‘They seemed to have no weapons 
of any consequence; but, from our subsequent knowledge of 
their habits, and disposition, the probability is they had 
spears, bows, and arrows concealed close at hand. The only 
implement found amongst them was a sort of hatchet or knife, 
made of a crooked piece of wood, with part of an iron hoop 
tied to the end. he men were very slightly clothed, having 
only the back protected by a seal’s skin; but the females wore 
large guanaco mantles, like those of the Patagonian Indians, 
whom our pilot told us they occasionally met for the purpose 
of barter. Some of the party were devouring seal’s flesh, and 
drinking the oil extracted from its blubber, which they carried 
in bladders. The meat they were eating was probably part 
of a sea lion (Phoca jubata) ; for Mr. Sholl found amongst 
them a portion of the neck of one of those animals, which is 
