THE STRAIT OF MAGELLAN. 149 



Occasionally the bolas are constructed of but two balls, the 

 intermediate one being omitted ; and this kind is principally 

 employed for the capture of the ostrich, the other being 

 reserved for the guanaco. 



The guanaco and ostrich, both of which exist in numbers 

 on the plains, form the principal food of the Patagonians, and 

 rows of strips of the flesh of these animals may often be seen 

 hanging up to dry in front of their tents. Their only vege- 

 table aliment, in so far as we could observe, was the long 

 tap-shaped root of an umbelliferous plant, which was either 

 the Balsam-bog [Bolax gleharia), or an allied species of 

 Azorella. Fitzroy, however, speaks of a second root of a 

 bulbous nature, which they sometimes use along with their 

 meat, and which, according to him, they call " tus." 



Except when excited to revenge a real or imaginary 

 injury, or under the influence of alcohol, which is some- 

 times the cause of frays among them, the Patagonians appear 

 to be an amiable and well-disposed people, and we were 

 always on excellent terms with them. In addition to 

 their own language, nearly all appear to be well acquainted 

 with Spanish, and a few have a little knowledge of English. 

 As to their numbers, it is impossible to speak with certainty, 

 but there can be no doubt that they are rapidly decreasing, 

 owing principally to the influence of strong drink and intro- 

 duced diseases, such as small-pox, which has destroyed many 

 of them, and in all probability, ere many centuries have 

 elapsed, the race will have entirely disappeared. 



There is one point connected with the history of the 

 Patagonians on which I may remark, in conclusion, that I 

 did not succeed in obtaining any definite information through- 

 out the time of our sojourn in the Strait — namely, whether at 

 the present time these people ever hold intercourse with the 



