186 



SWIMMING TRAINING. 



Swimming is a favourite amusement of the Fuegians during 

 summer ; but the unfortunate women are obliged to go out 

 into rather deep water, and dive for sea-eggs in the depth of win- 

 ter as often as in summer. Men, women, and children are excel- 

 lent swimmers ; but they all swim like dogs. Directly they come 

 out of the water they run to the fire, and rub their bodies all 

 over with oil or grease and ochreous earth, to keep out the cold. 

 Swinging between branches of trees, as our children do, is 

 also a favourite pastime, the ropes being made of strips of seal- 

 skin. Frequently the men are lowered down by such ropes 

 over the faces of high cliffs in search of eggs and young birds, 

 or to attack the seal which herd in caves washed by the surf, 

 and inaccessible to man from seaward. 



When ill, however seriously, they know of no remedies but 

 rubbing the body with oil, drinking cold water, and causing 

 perspiration by lying near the fire, wrapped up in skins. 



Both men and women are remarkably fond of the little chil- 

 dren, and were always much pleased at any notice taken of 

 them by our parties, when they felt sufficient confidence in us 

 to bring the children forward. Much respect is said to be 

 paid to age; yet we never saw either man or woman who 

 appeared to be very old — certainly no one was decrepit. 



It is rather curious that usually each of these natives is 

 trained to a particular pursuit : thus, one becomes an adept 

 with the spear ; another with the sling ; another with a bow 

 and arrows; but this excellence in one line does not hinder 

 their attaining a considerable proficiency in all the others.* 



Hostilities are usually carried on with slings and stones rather 

 than by close encounters ; yet occasional surprises happen, 

 especially when the Oens-men make an attack, and then there is 

 savage work with clubs, stones in the hand, and spears. 



In the winter, when snow lies deep on the ground, the 

 Tekeenica people assemble to hunt the guanaco, which then 

 comes down from the high lands to seek for pasture near the 

 sea. The long legs of the animal stick deeply into the snow 

 and soft boggy ground, disabling him from escape, while the 



* Mr. Low has seen Fuegians with balls (bolas) in the northern part of 

 their country. 



