Jan. 1827. 



FUEGIAN INDIANS. 



25 



Tracks of foxes were numerous about the beach, and the 

 footsteps of a large quadruped, probably a puma, were observed. 

 Some teal and wild ducks were shot ; and several geese were 

 seen, but, being very wary, they escaped. 



Upon Point St. Mary we noticed, for the first time, three 

 or four huts or wigwams made by the Fuegian Indians, which 

 had been deserted. They were not old, and merely required 

 a slight covering of branches or skins to make them habit- 

 able. These wigwams are thus constucted : long slender 

 branches, pointed at the end, are stuck into the ground in a 

 circular or oval figure ; their extremities are bent over, so as 

 to form a rounded roof, and secured with ligatures of rush ; 

 leaving two apertures, one towards the sea, and the other 

 towards the woods. The fire is made in the middle, and 

 half fills the hut with smoke. There were no Indians in 

 the bay when we arrived, but, on the following evenings 

 Lieutenant Sholl, in walking towards the south end of the 

 bay, suddenly found himself close to a party which had just 

 arrived in two canoes from the southward. Approaching 

 them^ he found there were nine individuals — three men, and 

 the remainder women and children. One of the women was 

 very old, and so infirm as to require to be lifted out of the canoe 

 and carried to the fire. They seemed to have no weapons 

 of any consequence ; but, from our subsequent knowledge of 

 their habits, and disposition, the probability is they had 

 spears, bows, and arrows concealed close at hand. The only 

 implement found amongst them was a sort of hatchet or knife, 

 made of a crooked piece of wood, with part of an iron hoop 

 tied to the end. The men were very slightly clothed, having 

 only the back protected by a seaPs skin ; but the females wore 

 large guanaco mantles, like those of the Patagonian Indians, 

 whom our pilot told us they occasionally met for the purpose 

 of barter. Some of the party were devouring seaFs flesh, and 

 drinking the oil extracted from its blubber, which they carried 

 in bladders. The meat they were eating was probably part 

 of a sea lion (Phoca juhata) ; for Mr. Sholl found amongst 

 them a portion of the neck of one of those animals, which is 



