SIGNS — PAIXT SHYNESS. 



177 



sinews of birds or animals ; but, to make a show, they some- 

 times stick feathers, bits of cloth, or any trash given to them, 

 into these head-bands. White feathers, or white down, on the 

 fillet, is a sign of hostility, or of being prepared for war. Red is 

 the favourite colour, denoting peace, or friendly intentions, and 

 much admired as ornamental. Red paint, made with ochre, is 

 profusely used. Their white* paint is added to the red when 

 preparing for war ; but the marks made are mere daubs, of 

 the rudest, if of any design. Black is the mourning colour. 

 After the death of a friend, or near relation, they blacken 

 themselves with charcoal, and oil or grease. Any sort of clay 

 is used, if their paint is scarce, to preserve warmth rather than 

 as an improvement to their appearance. 



When discovered by strangers, the instant impulse of a 

 Fuegian family is to run off into the wood with their children, 

 and such things as they can carry with them. After a short 

 time, if nothing hostile is attempted by the intruders, and if 

 they are not too numerous, the men return cautiously, making 

 friendly signs, waving pieces of skins, rubbing and patting their 

 bellies, and shouting. If all goes on quietly, the women fre- 

 quently return, bringing with them the children; but they 

 always leave the most valuable skins hidden in the bushes. This 

 hasty concealment of seal or otter skins is the result of visits 

 from sealers, who frequently robbed Fuegian families of every 

 skin in their possession, before the natives understood the mo- 

 tives of their expeditions in boats into the interior waters of 

 Tierra del Fuego. Sometimes nothing will induce a single indi- 

 vidual of the family to appear ; men, women, and children 

 hide in the thick woods, where it would be almost impossible 

 to find them, and do not show themselves again until the 

 strangers are gone : but during the whole time of their conceal- 

 ment a watchful look-out is kept by them upon the motions of 

 their unwelcome visitors. 



Scarcity of food, and the facility with which they move from 

 one place to another in their canoes, are, no doubt, the reasons 



* Aluminous earth, indurated pipe clay, or decomposed feldspai\ 

 VOL. II. N 



