18 



PHYSICAL HISTORY OF MAN. 



The Southern Watermen, or the Fuegians, are far less advanced 

 in the art of navigation than their Northern brethren. Their canoes 

 are smaller, and inferior in construction. They are not known to 

 venture forth into the open sea; and even the Falkland Islands, al- 

 though so near the coast, appear to have remained unvisited by them. 

 Something, indeed, should be allovt'ed, for the more tempestuous cha- 

 racter of the surrounding Southern Ocean. 



In Feljruary, 1839, the Vincennes came to anchor in Orange Har- 

 bour; and on the day of our arrival, a small canoe made its appear- 

 ance, coming from the direction of the islet of Cape Horn, which was 

 nearly in sight. I was on shore at the time; and before I could reach 

 the ship's side, the canoe departed, without giving me a distinct view 

 of the occupants. During the nine following days, that elapsed be- 

 fore the sailing of the Relief, no other natives made their appearance ; 

 and notwithstanding I landed at different points almost every day, 

 and extended my walks as far as six miles inland, the whole country 

 appeared to be a solitude. 



Sometimes, however, in following the coast, I would come upon a 

 deserted hut; scarcely distinguishable in the midst of the rank growth 

 of herbaceous plants, and always situated immediately in the rear of 

 the beach. In shape it was hemispherical, having the apex unfinished 

 for the passage of smoke ; and it seemed to be the work of but a few 

 hours with the unassisted hands. A heap of mussels and limpets 

 uniformly encumbered the entrance, and indicated the chief support 

 of the proprietors. A foot-path was in general traceable, not leading 

 inland, but only to the water's edge ; and in a single instance a weed 

 remained behind, a Nettle, that had been unintentionally transported 

 from its native soil. Such was the only change man had here wrought 

 upon the face of nature. 



By what means the Fuegians procure fire, so precious in this chilly 

 and humid climate, I am uninformed ; but the process would seem to 

 be difficult, since they are careful always to take a supply in their 

 canoes. At first it appeared a surprising circumstance, that living 

 where snow is not unfrequent, and so near the Antarctic circle, these 

 people should be entirely destitute of clothing ! And no fact so 

 plainly disclosed the absence of the severe winters of the North. In- 

 deed we afterwards found, that in the Southern hemisphere, vegetation 

 is nowhere checked by a season of cold ; but that in many respects, a 

 tropical climate may be said to extend to the Antarctic snows. 



After the sailing of the Relief, the natives made their appearance 



