Jan. 1827. patagonian Indians, 17 



good horses. The woman, who appeared to be about fifty 

 years of age, was seated astride upon a pile of skins, hung 

 round with joints of fresh guanaco meat and dried horsc-flesli. 

 They were all wrapped in mantles, made chiefly of the skins 

 of guanacoes, sewed together with the sinews of the same 

 animal. These mantles were large enough to cover the whole 

 body. Some were made of skins of the ' zorillo,' or skunk, an 

 animal like a pole-cat, but ten times more offensive ; and others, 

 of skins of the puma. 



The tallest of the Indians, excepting the old man, who did 

 not dismount, was rather less than six feet in height. All 

 were robust in appearance, and with respect to the head, length 

 of body, and breadth of shoulders, of gigantic size ; therefore, 

 when on horseback, or seated in a boat, they appeared to be 

 tall, as well as large men. In proportion to the parts above- 

 mentioned, their extremities were very small and short, so that 

 when standing they seemed but of a moderate size, and their 

 want of proportion was concealed by the mantle, which enve- 

 loped the body entirely, the head and feet being the only parts 

 exposed. 



When Mr. Cooke landed, he presented some medals * to 

 the oldest man, and the woman ; and suspended them round 

 their necks. A friendly feeling being established, the natives 

 dismounted, and even permitted our men to ride their horses, 

 without evincing the least displeasure, at the free advantage 

 taken of their good-nature. Mr. Cooke rode to the heights, 

 whence he had a distinct view of the Second Narrow, and 

 Elizabeth Island, whither, he explained to the Indians who 

 accompanied him, we were going. 



Mr. Cooke returned to the ship with three natives, whom 

 he had induced to go with us to Elizabeth Island ; the others 

 were to meet them, and provide us with guanaco meat, 

 to which arrangement the elders of the family had, after 



* Previous to the expedition quitting England, I had provided myself" 

 with medais, to give away to the Indians with whom we might commu- 

 nicate, bearing on one side the figure of Britannia, and on the revo ke 

 " r4!»orge I V.'' "Adventure and Beagle," and " 1826." 

 VOL. I. C 



