Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1891-08-12
CATTLE IN TERRA DEL FuEGo.

CATTLE IN TERRA DEL FUEGO.
The Latest Explorers Think Ranches VIII
Soon Cover Much of the Island.
The notions of Terra del Fuego,
which prevailed ten years ago, have
been completely upset by recent ex-
plorations. The latest travellers there
are Messrs Rousson and Willems, who
have just returned to France from their
scientific mission in Terra del Fuego.
These explorers believe the northern
part of the island can be turned to good
account, and that the day is not far
distant when large herds and focks
will be raised upon ranches established
all along the river valleys. A large
district north of the Straits of Magel-
Ian, in Patagonia, which was wholly
unoccupied twelve years ago. is now
full of little farms devoted to raising
sheep and cattle. The owners have
proSpered SO well that the territory
they occupy has become too crowded.
It is impossible to extend this business
further north, and the farmers will
therefore be compelled to turn to Terra
del Fuego, which will receive the over
flow from Patagonia. On Dawson ISL
and, near the northwest coast of Terra
del Fuego, Jesuit fathers are now en-
gagged in stock raising, and for two
years or so fine ranch has been
established on the northern coast
of Terra del Fuego, where there
are to-day about twenty thousand
sheep and six thousand cattle. The
English have been the first to establish
themselves in this territory. Stock
raisers are now reaping profit of fifty
per cent per annum. The explorers
say the availability of the island for
stock raising has been amply proven,
and there is now no doubt that pros
porous future is before it.
Rousson and Willems explored the
northern part of the island between
50 deg. 80 min. and SO deg. 80 min.
south latitude, travelling all along
the north coast and across the
island, about sixty miles south of the
Straits of Magellan. They mapped all
the little rivers, and found that the
Cullen river, which empties into the
Atlantic ocean, is quite an important
stream. The valley of this river is
fine country, and the rich heritage
afforded abundant nourishment for the
horses upon which the party rode.
They met the Ona Indians all through
their journey. Quite number of them
were six-and-a-half feet high and very
muscular. They are nearly naked,
wearing only over their shoulders Ill
made capes of guanaco skin. The only
ornament which they possess consists of
bracelet or a collar of shells. These
Indians inhabit about two-thirds of the
island. The men occupy themselves
wholly with procuring food. Their
bows and arrows are always with them,
and they use flint arrow heads. Much
of their time is given to making weap-
ons of the chase and war. They are
continually in trouble with the Indians
west and south of them, from whom
they differ greatly.
The women carry the burdens while
on the march, prepare the camps, keep
the fires going and take care of the
children. In preparing their habitation
they dig circular excavations about six
feet in diameter and a foot and half
in depth, usually on the side of hill.
Around the excavation they stick poles,
upon which they place the tent, made
of the skins of animals. Over the floor
they scatter dried grass The upper
part of the tent is wholly open. Each
of these little habitations shelters
family of three or four persons, who
nestle together on the floor like a litter
of puppies. The people are a nomad
race. They are frequently on the move,
leaving one place as soon as the game
there becomes scarce For this reason
the country is marked by the sites of
old tents The people are very much
afraid of white men, if they come in
considerable force, but if their mum bers
greatly exceed the whites who visit
them they are very impudent and are
likely to be hostile. They are not an
thropophogists, as has been asserted.
The fact that they are in the habit of
burning the bones of the animals they
eat probably gave rise to the report
that they indulge in human flesh
One camp of Onas communicates with
another by fire. Using the roots of
plants as torches they are able to COM
municate with one another for great
distances in the night time. There are
no trees and very few shrubs in the
northern part of the island. The quad
rupeds are also few in number, but
there is large variety Of birds.-N. Y.