SOUTHERN ABOHIGTNES. 



141 



The wigwams of the Alikhoolip, and indeed of all the 

 Fuegians, except the Tekeenica (and perhaps some of the 

 Yacana, whom we have not seen), are shaped like bee-hives. 

 Their height is not above four or five feet above the ground ; 

 but an excavation is usually made within, which gives another 

 foot, making about five feet and a-half of height, inside, 

 and they are two, three, or four yards in diameter. Branches 

 of trees stuck in the ground, bent together towards the top, 

 form the structure, upon which skins, pieces of bark, and 

 bunches of coarse grass are roughly fastened. Of course, 

 neither these nor the Tekeenica wigwams are wind or water 

 tight, neither does the smoke need a chimney. 



The country and climate of the Alikhoolip are similar to 

 the Tekeenica, though wetter, more windy, and more disa- 

 greeable. Both men and women are better covered with seal 

 or otter skins than the Tekeenica and Pecheray tribes. When 

 surprised, or sure that they would not be plundered, the women 

 of this tribe were always seen wrapped in large otter or seal 

 skins. 



The natives of the central parts of Magalhaens Strait appear 

 to be almost as miserable a race as the Tekeenica. As in nothing 

 but language, and the construction of their wigwams, is there 

 any diff'erence which has yet been found out (though probably 

 existing), I shall say no more of them in this place. 



Their climate is nearly the same as that of the Alikhoolip ; 

 and the country is similar, though more wooded in many 

 places, because more sheltered. 



Those whom I have hitherto called Huemul, who live near 

 the Otway and Skyring Waters, seem to be a mixed breed, 

 rather resembling the Yacana, of which tribe they are probably 

 a branch. In habits, as well as in appearance, they partake of 

 some of the peculiarities of Patagonians as well as Fuegians. 

 Their country is like the Yacana — Tierra del Fuego blending 

 or sinking into Patagonia, sharing the qualities of each region, 

 and therefore preferable to either. They have very few canoes ; 

 and no horses : but large dogs are used by them in hunting 

 the huemul and guanaco. 



