2 24 ^'^^'^ Days in Patagonia. 



among the race of men, and shows, at present, no 

 sign of becoming obsolete. Moreover, that first 

 correlation, namely, milk-glands and a hairy cover- 

 ing, appears to have entered the very soul of 

 creatures of this class, and to have hecome psi/chica I 

 as well as i)liysical, for in that type, which is only 

 inferior to the angels, the fondness for this kind of 

 outer covering is a strong and ineradicable passion." 

 I am not sure that this view accords with some 

 facts in our experience, and with some instinctive 

 feelings which we all liave. Like "VVaterton I have 

 found that the feet take very kindly to the earth, 

 however hot or cold or rough it may be, and that 

 shoes, after being left off for a short time, seem as 

 uncomfortable as a mask. The face is always un- 

 covered ; why does the supposed correlation not 

 apply to this part ? The face is pleasantly warm 

 when the too delicate body shivers with cold under 

 its covering; and pleasantly cool when the sun 

 shines hot on us. When the wind strikes ns on a 

 hot day, or during violent exercise, the sensation to 

 the face is extremely agreeable, but far from agree- 

 able to the body where the covering does not allow 

 the moisture to evaporate rapidly. The umbrella 

 has not entered the soul — not yet ; but it is miser- 

 able to get wet in the rain, yet pleasant to feel the 

 rain on the face. " I am all face," the naked 

 American savage said, to explain why he felt no 

 discomfort from the bleak wind which made his 

 civilized fellow-traveller shiver in his furs. Again, 

 what a relief, what a pleasure, to throw off the clothes 



