to the Strait of Magellan. 95 



?5lgns and sounds; so that, after a very long conversation of this 

 kind, both parties remained just as ignorant as at the beginning 

 of it.* 



Their manner of life being so little elevated above that of the 

 brute creation, and their societies so limited in number, it was 

 impossible for us to learn any thing more concerning them than 

 what fell uader our own observation, — that is, their tigure, food, 

 arms, navigation, and arts, if such we may call the manufac- 

 ture of the few rude utensils they possess. 



Before we arrived at Port Famine, our boat having been on- 

 shore, brought off five of tiiese Indians, found on the beach, 

 whose nakedness, stupidity, and insupportable stench, filled us 

 with equal horror and commiseration ; for they seemed to live 

 in the utmost wretchedness. When sent back to land, they 

 joined their companions who had been left behind them; and, 

 all together, followed the vessel all the way along the coast to 

 that port. 



It is impossible to describe how offensive and loathsome tliese 

 men are from the filth of their persons as well as of their huts, 

 constantly covered with the shells of shell-fish, and the re- 

 mains of their ordinary food. 



It seems to be beyond a doubt, that sometimes, though pro- 

 bably seldom, they have communication with the Patagonians ; 

 as was evident, from the perfect similarity of their dogs and 

 lama skins, which they procure in exchange for some produc- 

 tions, but what we know not, peculiar to their country. How- 

 ever, their striking inferiority in bodily strengtli, as well as in 

 mental powers, wiil naturally induce them to avoid much fami- 

 liarity with their eastern neighbours, from whom thej^ are to- 

 tally different, but entirely resembling the natives of Tierra 

 del Fuego. 



They are of the ordinary size, rather inclining to middle 

 stature; their limbs are well-proportioned, and they are very- 

 agile, notvv^ithstanding they use very little exercise ; their com- 

 plexion pale-yellow, inclining to a copper-colour, but some of 

 them darker than others. There is nothing either remarkably- 

 disgusting nor pleasing in their features. Their hair seems to 

 be rather like that of horses and cattle than that of human 

 creatures, which is probably occasioned by their having the 



* Note of Orig;innl. — Our officers, who, for a space of two months and a half, 

 kept up a continual intercourse with these Indians, notwithstaudini; their utmost 

 exertions, were able to collect only the scanty hints contained iu the Collowiag 

 pages; and were not a tittle inclined to admire the fiicility with which other tra- 

 vellers have been able, in the course of only a few days, to acquire an intimate 

 acqaaiataiice with tlieir customs, laws, religion; and even tUeir lanjy;ua^^e! 



