﻿l68 
  PRIMEVAL 
  MAN. 
  

  

  mass 
  of 
  wild 
  rocks, 
  lofty 
  hills, 
  and 
  useless 
  

   forests 
  ; 
  and 
  these 
  are 
  viewed 
  through 
  mists 
  

   and 
  endless 
  storms. 
  The 
  habitable 
  land 
  is 
  

   reduced 
  to 
  the 
  stones 
  of 
  the 
  beach. 
  In 
  search 
  

   of 
  food 
  they 
  are 
  compelled 
  to 
  wander 
  un- 
  

   ceasingly 
  from 
  spot 
  to 
  spot, 
  and 
  so 
  steep 
  is 
  

   the 
  coast 
  that 
  they 
  can 
  only 
  move 
  about 
  in 
  

   their 
  wretched 
  canoes." 
  They 
  are 
  habitual 
  

   cannibals, 
  killing 
  and 
  eating 
  their 
  old 
  women 
  

   before 
  they 
  kill 
  their 
  dogs, 
  for 
  the 
  sufficient 
  

   reason, 
  as 
  explained 
  by 
  themselves 
  — 
  "Doggies 
  

   catch 
  otters, 
  old 
  women 
  no." 
  Of 
  some 
  of 
  these 
  

   people 
  who 
  came 
  round 
  the 
  Beagle 
  in 
  their 
  

   canoes, 
  the 
  same 
  author 
  says 
  — 
  " 
  These 
  were 
  

   the 
  most 
  wretched 
  and 
  miserable 
  creatures 
  

   I 
  anywhere 
  beheld. 
  They 
  were 
  quite 
  naked, 
  

   and 
  even 
  one 
  full-grown 
  woman 
  was 
  absolutely 
  

  

  