54 NATIVES, OR Feb. 1827. 
Their bodies were smeared over with a mixture of earth, char- 
coal, or red-ccre, and seal-oil ; which, combined with the filth 
of their persons, produced a most offensive smell. Some were 
partially painted with a white argillaceous earth; others were 
blackened with charcoal ; one of the men was daubed all over 
with a white pigment. Their hair was bound by a fillet of 
plaited twine, made perhaps with strips of bark, and a few of 
them had it turned up; but to none did it appear to be an 
object of attention, except one of the young women, who 
repeatedly combed and arranged her’s with the well-toothed 
jaw of a porpoise. 
During a remarkably calm night, we were frequently startled 
by the loud blowing of whales, between us and the shore. We 
had noticed several of those monsters on the previous day, but 
had never heard them blow in so still a place. 
At dawn, a light air carried us towards some broken land 
to the S.E. of Cape Rowlett, between the eastern trend of 
which, and the projecting point of an island, we found a secure 
and land-locked harbour, with two entrances, one to the north 
and the other to the south of High Islet. The south side of 
the port, which I called Port Cooke,* is a narrow strip of 
land, forming the head of a deep inlet or sound, called-+ Brook 
Harbour. It seemed to extend to the base of the high moun- 
tainous range, and to be separated only by a narrow isthmus 
from Fitton Harbour. 
We had scarcely been at anchor half an hour when the same 
party of Fuegians was seen arriving. The men hastened to us in 
their canoes, as soon as the women had landed, to cover or thatch 
the wigwams, which they found standing, and to light fires. 
We afterwards went ashore, and, sitting down near them, 
commenced a brisk trade for arrows, skins, necklaces, and 
other commodities. The furs which covered their backs they 
parted with, for a few beads, and went quite naked the whole 
evening. 
Among them was a young man, who appeared to be treated 
* After the lieutenant of the Adventure. 
+ At Mr. Tarn’s request. 
