THE MONGOLIAN RACE, 



19 



more frequently ; and from oral descriptions, and the drawings of the 

 artists, I was enabled to satisfy myself of the physical identity with 

 our Northern aboriginals. I was, however, particularly struck with 

 the following testimony, obtained after spending two years among 

 the tribes of the Pacific and Southern Oceans; when having again 

 directed our course to America, we arrived in the Straits of De Fuca. 

 On here viewing the Chinooks, a highly intelligent and observing 

 officer remarked in my hearing, "tiiat he could not discover much 

 difference between them and the Fuegians; they appeared to him 

 essentially the same sort of people." 



Among the few articles manufactured by the Fuegians of Orange 

 Harbour, we observed that the strings are exclusively of animal fibre. 

 And that the weapons consist only of slings and spears; the latter 

 used apparently not for the purposes of war, but for procuring fish, 

 and perhaps seals. The spear-heads are formed of the solid bone of 

 some marine animal; and in shape and mode of attachment, they pre- 

 sent an obvious analogy to the bone-poiated arrows and salmon-spears 

 of Northwest America. A further unexpected analogy is perceived 

 in the shape of the paddles ; the Fuegians making the blade even nar- 

 rower than do the Northwestern tribes. 



The Relief, previous to my going on board, had touched at Good- 

 success Bay, at the eastern extremity of Terra del Fuego. And the 

 "superior stature and condition" of the natives seen at that place, 

 induced eye-witnesses to suppose, that they belonged to a different 

 class from the people frequenting Orange Harbour. Indeed the pos- 

 session of bows and arrows, and the wearing of the skins of land 

 quadrupeds, indicate a hunting tribe; or at least, one not altogether 

 depending on the products of the sea. They were perhaps a speci- 

 men of the tribes which frequent the unknown Interior of the main 

 island of Terra del Fueg'). 



The bows obtained at Good-success Bay are simply of wood ; with- 

 out the addition of sinew. The arrows are pointed with flint-stone, 

 and are of the usual American pattern ; but they are feathered only 

 on two sides, and the shaft is more highly finished and more beautiful 

 than I have seen it in the North. A hank of yarn, made apparently 

 of the wool of the guanaco, was worn by the natives on the head. 

 But the manufacture of leather does not appear to have reached these 

 Southern tribes. 



