Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-02-02
mAnntAaE.
Strange Appearance aad queer
Ways OF Une Jagan Tribe.
London Daily NeEs.

the southwest OF the country.
We give the account In Lieutenant
Bove's words:
The Jagans impress one as a poor
race. In genera, the men are scarcely
more than of medium stature, while
the women rarely reach it. The faces
Of this race are round, large, and fat,
with high cheek bones, low foreheads,
large, fat noses, very black and rest
less eyes, wide apart, large tumid lips,
and strong jaws, furnished with beau
tiful teeth. The head and chest are
disproportionately large compared to
the extreme slenderness Of arms and
legs, and it is a marvel how the latter
can support the we'll developed trunk
and heavy head.
In spite OF this strange formation.
both men and women have uncommon
strength, aud | have sten them carry
weights that would have taxed tn,
robustest Of our sailors. No less sur
prising is the smalIDess of the hands
and feet, which, ii a beauty, is very
instantaneous to the men, who cal
carry only one or two objects in their
hands at the same tine. They have
rough, l~ustreless black hair, which
they wear loose, and falling over the
face and shoulders. Some bind it with
a leather strap, but most let it grow to
such an extent that they look more
like iuries than human beings.
Though a Fuegian may marry al
many wives as he pleaseS he seldom
takes more than four; and even with
that small number it is difficult TO
preserve domestic peace. The wigwam
is The scene of daily battles, and some
times the prettiest Of the wives pay
with her life for the preferences Of heI
husband. Sometimes, however, tb,
wives all unite against their cOmmOt
husband, The girls begin to hunt foi
husbands at ten or twelve years Of age,
but they only become mothers at the
age Of seventeen or eighteen.
The men marry at fourteen or six
teen years VI age. The marriages arr
dictated by convenience, and are /
matter Of sale and purchase rather
than Of love or reciprocal sympathy
The father chooses from among th,
suitors for bis daughter the n VIII,
is strongest. most dexterous aud do.
ollie 10 his wishes, aud days that hi,
son in law must work for him. A
canoe, spears and harpoJn are to b,
the property of the bride.
When all is settled the bride is in.
formed, aud, whatever may be he
sentiments, she takes good care t,
show no resistance to her father, ant
is taken away to her husbands wig
wan. But generally the father
choice is also tue daughters. Tor no
where do strength and dexterity max,
a greater impression than upon thl
Fuegians girls, who fly from n crooked
or defOrmed man as from par'ah.
There is no feast or wedding cere
mony. The bride simply goes to bel
husbands wigwam, or he establishe0
himself in that Of her father Blu
some rules have to be observed. |
the husband wishes TO continue TO ca
the flesh of the guanaco or seal b.
must take a purifying bath in the SCI
the morning after his wedding. Suci
a bath, especially in the depth o
winter, is no doubt often the cause o
many OF the m.ladies to which tn,
Fuegians are subject The FuegiaI
women are very prolific. Seven o
eight is the average number Of chill
dren, but often a still young womal
will have ten or twelve.
The children, however, seldom al
survive their parents, for the mortal
ty between two and ten years Of sg
is extraordinary. The variable an
rigid climate, the want OF nouri,h
RsSt, sshass terrible hess and bad ,res.
ment by the parents are the chic
causes Of the death of these miserable
infants yet nnarmed against the fright
ful struggle for existence, And an.
other evil, introduced by civilization
has come TO add to those that s.
ravage these unhappy natives.
The smallness OF the new borl
children is such that chuduirtn
extremely easy. When the grea
moment arrives the future mothe
leaves her wigwam accompanied b,
a few female friends, aud seeks a Sc
cure retreat in the woods The yer,
next day the young mother is oftel
seen 6,hlng in a canoe or gltherinI
shell fish along the coast. Th,
mothers love last, it may be said
until the babe is weaned, alter which
affection rapidly diminishes as thu
child grows, and is completely gvn,
when the latter attains the age 0
seven or eight years, At this age I'll,
parents have no more authority owe
the boys, who go out aud come 10 a
they like, and are never ask ed wba
they are doing.
The only lasting love in the hear
Of a Fuegian is the love of self. Ho,
often have | seen a father devouring
piece Of meat or bread while hi
furnishing wives aud children silent
watched him with their hungry eyes
timidly picking up the crumbs tba
fell from his mouth. and darting raw
e%nously upon the remnants thrown
them by the ierocieus head OF III
family. AS there are no family tie
the word authority" is void Of mean
ing among the Fuegians. Ever
family enjoys the utmost independ
enoe, and only the need Of commo
defense induces n few fsmiIias N Ior,