to th a Sir a it f/ M agdla n, 1 0 1 



Cables made of rush and espartOj of various lengths and 

 thickness, much like the small ones made of the same materials 

 in Spain. 



It appears impossible that in such frail vessels tliey should 

 undertake voyages alon^ and across the str.dt, in a climate so 

 inconstant, and so subject to sudden changes from calms to, 

 furious squalls. Nevertheless it is certain, that they very fre- 

 quently cross the channel, and even make long courses in the 

 strait, of which we had sundry proofs ; for instance, that of the 

 family that followed us from Cape Neuro to Cape liedondo ; 

 and that in the mouth of the channel of S. Geronimo we met 

 with many of those Indians we had before seen in Port Galan. 

 In these canoes they also transport their whole furniture, and 

 other property, when they migrate from one part of the coast 

 to another. 



The boldness with which they run such hazards, may perhaps 

 be attributed to their intimate acquaintance with the strait ; but 

 which, on many occasions, cannot prevent them from falling 

 victims to their rashness and imprudence. 



Their aims consist of the bow and arrows; the bow being 

 roughly u;ade of wood, with a cord of entrails of hsh, with 

 which they give it the requisite curvature. The arrow is made 

 of a smooth stick, of the length of two or three feet, having at 

 one end a piece of fiint worked down and shaped like a heart ; 

 and, at the other end, two small portions of feathers, fastened 

 to it with a very fme cord. No very considerable eiforts ought 

 to be expected from this weapon ; however, they are extremely 

 dexterous in the use of it, and we observed that they fixed the 

 arrow easily in a tree, the flint separating itself from the wooden 

 part. 



The sling is applied to two very different purposes: one is 

 to discharge stones, and the other to fcisten their skin mantle 

 round the waist. The stone is situated in a piece of skin or 

 leather, and the cord or string is, as usual, of the entrails of 

 fish. 



They also carry sometimes a stick of two and a half feet in 

 length, and as thick as the (inger, having a stone or flint, of the 

 same shape as that of the arrow, fixed at the end of it, two 

 inches long, and of proportional thickness : this they emplo}'" 

 two javelin, throwing it with the hand. 



On many of these Indians we also observed a sort of dagger or 

 dirk made of bone, aiui very sharp, of various siiai)es. They 

 tie them fast to a pole or staff two yards long, and use them, we 

 believe, to kill seals, whales, he. as they have some resemblance 

 to our harpoons ; and, when near their prey, they may inflict no 

 less iiiorlal wounds. 



