54 



NATIVES, OR 



Feb. 1827. 



Their bodies were smeared over with a mixture of earth, char- 

 coal, or red-Gcre, and seal-oil ; which, combined with the filth 

 of their persons, produced a most offensive smell. Some were 

 partially painted with a white argillaceous earth ; others were 

 blackened with charcoal ; one of the men was daubed all over 

 with a white pigment. Their hair was bound by a fillet of 

 plaited twine, made perhaps with strips of bark, and a few of 

 them had it turned up ; but to none did it appear to be an 

 object of attention, except one of the young women, who 

 repeatedly combed and arranged her's with the well-toothed 

 jaw of a porpoise. 



During a remarkably calm night, we were frequently startled 

 by the loud blowing of whales, between us and the shore. We 

 had noticed several of those monsters on the previous day, but 

 had never heard them blow in so still a place. 



At dawn, a light air carried us towards some broken land 

 to the S.E. of Cape Rowlett, between the eastern trend of 

 which, and the projecting point of an island, we found a secure 

 and land-locked harbour, with two entrances, one to the north 

 and the other to the south of High Islet. The south side of 

 the port, which I called Port Cooke,* is a narrow strip of 

 land, forming the head of a deep inlet or sound, called f Brook 

 Harbour. It seemed to extend to the base of the high moun- 

 tainous range, and to be separated only by a narrow isthmus 

 from Fitton Harbour. 



We had scarcely been at anchor half an hour when the same 

 party of Fuegians was seen arriving. The men hastened to us in 

 their canoes, as soon as the women had landed, to cover or thatch 

 the wigwams, which they found standing, and to light fires. 



We afterwards went ashore, and, sitting down near them, 

 commenced a brisk trade for arrows, skins, necklaces, and 

 other commodities. The furs which covered their backs they 

 ]mrted with, for a few beads, and went quite naked the whole 

 evening. 



Among them was a young man, who appeared to be treated 



* After the lieutenant of the Adventure, 

 t At Mr. Tarn's request. 



