DOGS. 



201 



Indians (Excepting some facts related by Capt. King in vol. i.), 

 I will add a few words about their constant and faithful com- 

 panion, the dog : and then continue the narrative. 



The dog of a Fuegian or Chonos Indian is small, active, and 

 wiry, like a terrier with a cross of fox. His hair is usually 

 rough, and dusky, or dark-coloured ; but there are many dogs 

 among the Fuegians almost white, or prettily spotted, some of 

 which have fine smooth hair. All that were examined had 

 the roof of their mouth black, the ears erect, large, and pointed ; 

 the nose sharp, like that of a fox ; the tail drooping, and 

 rather inclined to be bushy. They are exceedingly vigilant 

 and faithful. Their sagacity is shown in many ways, some of 

 which I have already noticed ; and not least, in their providing 

 for themselves, each low-water, by cunningly detaching limpets 

 from the rocks, or by breaking muscle and other shells, and 

 then eating the fish. 



These dogs bark at strangers with much fury : and they 

 give tongue eagerly when hunting the otter.* 



* Byron says they do so likewise when driving- fish into corners. 



Note to page 185. — The Fueg'ian necklaces show some ingenuity in 

 those who make them, being composed of small shells, perforated very 

 neatly, and fastened together on strings of sinews or gut, so finely divided 

 and platted, that one is, at first, inclined to doubt their being the manu- 

 facture of such uncouth savages. 



