RIO NEGRO. 117 
beach, shouting to them to land. Lieutenant-Commandant Long 
delayed his departure for a few hours, and landed with a number of 
the officers. As the boats approached the shore, the natives began 
their shouting, and advanced towards them on their landing without 
fear, exhibiting a pleasant air, and apparently with every feeling of 
confidence : they were all unarmed. An old man, who was the chief, 
came forward to salute them, first by patting his own breast several 
times, and then that of each individual of the party, making use of 
the word cu-char-lie, dwelling on the first syllable, and accenting the 
last, in a whining tone of voice. The meaning of cu-char-lie it was 
impossible to divine, for it was used for every thing. After this cere- 
mony they returned to the thicket, and brought forth their bows and 
arrows. These people were admirable mimics, and would repeat all 
kinds of sounds, including words, with great accuracy : the imitation 
was often quite ridiculous. They were naked, with the exception of 
a guanacoe-skin, which covered them from the shoulders to the knees. 
Mr. Agate's drawing of one of these Patagonians, faces the first 
page of this chapter. 
The party of natives was seventeen in number, and with a few 
exceptions, they were above the European height. The chief, who 
was the oldest man among them, was under fifty years of age, and 
of comparatively low stature ; his son was one of the tallest, and above 
six feet in height. They had good figures and pleasant-looking coun- 
tenances, low foreheads, and high cheek-bones, with broad faces, the 
lower part projecting; their hair was coarse and cut short on the 
crown, leaving a narrow border of hair hanging down ; over this they 
wore a kind of cap or band of skin or woollen yarn. The front teeth 
of all of them were very much worn, more apparent, however, in the 
old than in the young. On one foot they wore a rude skin sandal. 
Many of them had their faces painted in red and black stripes, 
with clay, soot, and ashes. Their whole appearance, together with 
their inflamed and sore eyes, was filthy and disgusting. They were 
thought by the officers more nearly to approach to the Patagonians 
than any other natives, and were supposed to be a small tribe who 
visit this part of Terra del Fuego in the summer months; they were 
entirely different from the Petcherais, whom we afterwards saw at 
Orange Harbour. 
None of their women or children were seen, but they were thought 
to be not far distant in the wood, as they objected to any of our 
people going towards it, and showed much alarm when guns were 
vor,. i. 30 
