The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-08-19
lchamber's Journal

The group OF islands which form the
ARCHIPELAGO of TERRA del Fuego have
an area of about 5000 square miles,
nearly the same size rs England and
Scotland Darwia describes the coup-
try a. "a mountainous land partly sub
merged in the sea, 20 that deep inlets
and bays occupy the place where the
valleys should exist. To find an acre
of level land in ans part of the country
i most rare" Don Ramon Lista,
however. who has greater and more
recent opportunities OF investigation,
thinks this description mis-
taken enc He describes Argentine
TERRA del Fuego as present.
ing two aspects. In the North
there are valleys more OF less eXten-
sive. covered with splendid groves.
and irrigated by large rivers, some of
which are nayigahle; this region en-
loving an agreeable temperature, with
very little snow during the winter.
south OF this he reports that the ap-
pearancs OF the country changes aud
extended forests appear. where the
grass Is not so abundant or the rivers
so large The face al the land
is in this part something like Swi,zer-
land. with small lakes. elevated
mountains and valuable timber forests.
He seems to think the country capable
of great development, for he adds;
" ON the plains there will yet be plant
cd q great pastoral industry, while |
believe the mountains viii be found 70
contain valuable mineral deposits,
Travellers reports as 10 the inhab-
tants Of Terra del fuego have been
conflicting. Some visitors have re-
ported the natives g. be Stalwart, fine
looking men, and others have de
Scrihed them as small and ahlect
beings. Darwin. whose scientific IN
vestigations were confined 20 the south
OF the country. saws that 'one can
hardly believe them % be fellow erea-
ture5 and inhabitants Of the same
world
on thc other hand, other explorers in
the north aud northwest describe the
Feurians a. powerful men OF large
stature and wariike instincts. TINS
apparent discrepancy seems to oe que
60 the fact that the land Is inhabited
bV two very distinct races ar tu-
dams MIR. Bridges, whose long
residence in the country enables
him 10 speak with authority on
this paint assures as that there are
two separate anu AA-tals@s - ~ - Va
ING in TERRA Gel FueEo. lie calls
Thorn aS they call themselves. onas
ana Yahrans; the former living
in the north and the latter in the south.
The OnaS seem 10 be almost identical
In character. manner and language
with the Tachelehe Indians q FaIa-
gonna Like them, they use bows and
arrows In the chase and are mus
.rular. active and well tormesi.
Their number = ROW nieoh
reduced. an epidemic Of tneastes nav
ipc been very fatal among them lew
wears aso, AMI the whole tribe preea-
I'M docs NOS BON number more ih&n
so persons. They are nomadic And
live pFiaCleaily IN portable tents GOV
cred with guauaco skins Mt roper
did not form q high opinion Ct
their intellectual faculties, Judging
from the primitive nature OF
tbeir indictments He describes
Their tools a. consisting Tor the most
MARI ~ pieces Of iron tascn from some
Yes>sl csst on shore, and tied to pieces
ri Woaa bY leather thongs. They
have no canoes. and 10 not nsh,
though they pick MP on the shore
Sbueh 6~h as are let behind after
heavy tides. Their only water vessels
are large shells but they display some
ingenuity in making arrows ana
baskets