THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. 121 



These savages, of whose habits and customs much less is 

 known than those of the Fuegians in the southern and west- 

 ern parts of Tierra del Fuego, appear to constitute a very 

 distinct tribe confined to the northern part of the large eastern 

 island, the climate and productions of which differ very con- 

 siderably from the remaining portions of the archipelago — the 

 rainfall, at least in the northern portion of the island, being 

 comparatively small, and the country abounding in grassy 

 plains, presenting a close resemblance to those of eastern 

 Patagonia, and characterised by the presence of the same 

 animals and plants. They differ strikingly from the western 

 tribes in their much larger stature, and in their manner of life, 

 which approximates, in some particulars, to that of the 

 Patagonians, as they engage in the chase of the guanaco (the 

 flesh of which appears to be their principal article of diet, 

 although they do not disdain shell-fish), and whose skin fur- 

 nishes them with garments in the shape of long mantles, like 

 those of the Patagonians, but worn with the hair outermost 

 instead of innermost. Fitzroy justly remarks that this tribe, 

 whom he terms the Yacana-kunny (believing them to be the 

 people described by Falkner under this title), " seem to be now 

 much in the condition in which the Patagonians must have 

 been before they had horses ;" and adds that, " with their dogs, 

 with bows and arrows, balls (bolas), slings, and clubs, they 

 kill guanacos, ostriches, birds, and seals." He also mentions 

 that they frequently make incursions upon the Tekeenica, 

 another tribe in the south-eastern part of Tierra del Fuego, 

 characterised by their small stature, and whose country is 

 separated from that of the Yacana by a range of high mountains. 

 He estimates their number as about 600, but he does not 

 give us the data for this calculation, which, as the tribe is so 

 little known, can be considered of very little value. 



