1 02 CordovcCs Voyage of Discovery 



Amono;st the natives we saw at Port Galan , were some 

 who possessed small pieces of iron fixed in wooden handles, in 

 imitation of our hatchets, chisels, and aiigres, which, without 

 doubt, have remained in their hands since the last visits of 

 English and French travellers, on whose tools they set a high 

 value, on account of the great assistance they furnished in faci- 

 litating their labours. 



The skill and dexterity with which they manage their diflPer- 

 ent weapons, and the scars visible on many of thebO natives, 

 show that, on some occasions, they have quarrels and wars 

 amongst themselves ; but we Cctn affirm that they are not conti- 

 nually engaged in hostilities against their neighbours, and that 

 tho^e of Tierra del Fuego are not at all times enemies to those 

 of the continent, as we have seen them reciprocally paying vi- 

 sits to each other; and therefore it is only on some transient oc- 

 casions, that their differer^ces break out, which, however, are 

 soon brought to a proper termijiation. 



It is extremely difficult to ascertain the numbers composing 

 one tribe or family, or to discover whether, when they unite 

 together to the number of 60 or 70, they consider themselves 

 to be all related, and to form but one single society. 



We only remarked, that every eight or ten live together in 

 one hut; and that, although many more may reside at the same 

 time in one place, still each family is composed of the above 

 number of persons, and that each takes charge of providing its 

 proper food and fire, of the education of the children, and of 

 their own hut and canoe. 



To the women is entrusted the care of gathering shell-fish, 

 fruits, and herbs, for the support of the family and inhabit- 

 ants of the hut to which they belong, as also to keep up the 

 stock of wood and water for daily use ; to keep the canoe dry 

 and clean, on which account they are often up to the middle in 

 the water: they likewise row when they are in the canoe ; and, 

 lastly, have the entire charge of rearing their children, — in 

 doing which, they employ the most anxious care to preserve 

 them from diseases and accidents common to the state of 

 infancy, which, among those Indians, seems to be of shorter 

 duration than in civilized societies. 



The men, far from taking any siiare in the labours of their w^o- 

 men, reserve themselves entirely for certain other occupations ; 

 such as constructing of canoes, ijuilding of huts, making of arms, 

 and employmg them in hunting and fishing. But their labours 

 are neither so severe nor so continued as those of the poor 

 women; you therefore see them, for the most part, sitting on 

 their hams, their favourite attitude, round the fire, er stretched 



