The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-08-07
TERRA DEL PuEGO.

nent at the southern extremity of South
America:
| The Terra del Fnegions, so called from
the country they inhabt, (Which in turn
derived its name from the number of fires
seen along the shore by the first naviyators,)
made their appearance while we were at
anchor at Borja Bay. Shortly after we had
reached this place small, singular look
ing canoe was seen TO leave the shore and
make its way towards our ship and in
lew minutes we were honored by visit
rom two OF the Indians, with their numer-
Gus wives, children and dogs. Upon COM
ing on board the vessel they proved the
most inveteratc beggars ever me, with
There was nothing they saw for which they
did not ask; they begged for themselves
and, 1t unsuccessful in their application. for
their wives and children Their usual de
mand is for tobacco and biscuit, and, in er.
dearoring to purchase some of their weap
ons As curiosties we found that the former
article was the most priced; and next in
value were the bright buttons from our uni.
forms, (and probably they congratulated
themselves on finding people simple enough
TO give away such splendid ornamehts) and
then biscuit, old clothes and empty bottles.
/ The Indians are by far the most decra
ded and miserable of all the aboriginal in.
habltauts of South America. They are low
IN stature and Of II copper color, their cloth
I ing, consisting of Il sealshin, worn with the
hair outwards and tied around their person
by means of snews, is Of the very sean,iest
description; their food is revolving They
live chiefly upon muscles and limpets, and,
Whenever they can procure them, eagerly
de'our seals, sea otter, porp ises and
whales flesh, preparing none by fire, but
eating as they cut it from tie prey. In
their voracity they bear a greater resem
bIance to some wild animals than to human
beings. Their arms seem 10 consist solely
OF bows and arrows and spears, pointed
sometimes with glass and sometimes with
bones of these they willingly dispose in ex-
change for their favorite weed. The most
noticeable things about them are Heir bas
kets and their canoes, both of which mani
Test some labor and ingenuity in cons,ruc
ton. The former are formed of bark or
plated grass; the latter are of bark, and
put together without particle Of metal.
! lhe sides and bottoms are sewed together
by means of snews; small bars of wood are
I placed ailIwartships to preserve the shape,
ana the seams are caulked with some gum.
my preparation. They are small and light
50 as to'be easily padded about by two wo.
men. But !heir skill in making the canoes
may be compared TO the instinct of animals,
Tor II Is not improved by experience. We
I know from Drake that this, their most in.
! genlogs work has remained the same for
the last two hundred and fifty years.
lla fppnS nf .i,a ,,.,, ...... Y
void ef any intellectual expression, and, as
they belong to the mi adntirdrT school,
they expressed astouishment at uothing.
The women are better looking, and did not
hesitate TO exhibit their surprise or amuse
menl. | shall never forget the w nder of
one o: them at first seeing looking glass.
She first looked at herself, then laughed
and sought behind for the reflection, then
looked igain, and laying it down ON the
I deck, endeavored 10 seize the image. The
( hair OF both sexes is worn long and is al.
most as coarse rs the name OF horse; the
men have no boards Captain Cook has
( compared their language to the sound
made by man clearing his throat; but,
! says Mr.. Darwin, certainly no European
ever cleared his throat with so many hoarse,
! cultural, and clicking sounds" One word
Is made TO assume q great many different
, Specifications; tho same one, for instance,
meaning the Deity, the sun, ship, a child,
dog, and an amulet, or charm, generally
consisting of a bit Of glass suspended from
the neck. Notwithstanding this singular
/ pauci,y Of sounds in their language, they
very readily catch the pronunciation OF
words, and repeat with pefect correctness
any sentence uttered in their hearing, nj.
though they cannot attach any meaning TO
! the words
OF their domestic arrangements we could
learn but very little. Previously we had
found along the shores their wigwams, or
rather harbors, consisting OF broken bran
ches of trees stuck in the grouud and COW
cred with leaves and grass In these mis-
erabe hu,s, around a small fire built in the
middle, they sleep, coiod unon the wet
ground, like. animals. All their property
they seem TO carry about with them in
their canoes. Every man has at least t,so
wives, some of them moro; probably each
rs many ~ he requires to take care of him,
to paddle his canoe and collect his food, for
the whole labor devolvos upon the female
portion of the community. We were in.
formed that these savagas are never canni.
balls unless driven to it bv absolute starva.
ton, and then they only cat their old ro.
men. Upon having been asked or Que oc
casion why they did not kill and eat their
dogs, Of which animals they have great
numbers, in preference 70 their own people,
one Of them is said to have given the an
swer that dogs were useful in catching OF
tors, but that old women were good for
nothing.
Our visitors remained with us for a long
time, begging for everything they saw.
[ The sailors crowded around them, and gave
to them, with Jacks usual iiberality, tObac
co and old clothes. OF the former they
are extravagautly fond. Indeed, in their
! anxiety TO make the most of the fragrant