The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-08-03
PASSED THE sAvA0Es by.
..,,,s Behavior Of tho Steamship Coya
In the straits of Magellan.

/ N
=, tho steamship Coya, which arrived
on Saturday from Cailaoi had nad tlfn'
| tsoongbt home an assortment Of curioS
She was in hurry, however. ana sh'
Lon behind in the Straits or Magellan
,wo canoe lof is OF very angry sayages
,yho came out 10 trade with her and go
very much out OF temper when the shiI
steamed calmly by them without as
much as footing her whistle In salute.
| Ii was on the way down that the brief
| and informal meeting and parting be-
tween the ship and the cnnoes took place
| Captain Hullah was on deck about
| o'clock in the afternoon OF January 18th
| warm. for it was bitter cold. In spite
| Of a bright sun above. the thermometer
| marked zero, but there was little wind,
and the steamer was forging ahead at
| full speed i'm an almost calm sea through
| the westernmost end OF the Straits OF
Magellan The good weather was most
unusual, for usually the climate there
is a combination OF rain. hail, and snow
stirred up by violent winds. and every
body that could be on deck was there.
Consequently there was some stir when
the lookout cried:
Small boat on the port bow
All eyes were turned In the direction
indicated. They saw canoe, which had
come out from one OF the small ISLANDS,
and was being rapidly propelled by fve
sturdy men. who every now and then
stopped padding 10 wave their oars
frantically toward the ship.
They want us to stop for something"
said one OF the officers. They seem TO
want IL pretty bad too
They'll cross our bows and lie there
waiting for US" added another. See,
they've calculated just so as to rub us.
We'll they won't find it a comfortable
meeting" remarked Captain Hullah. IF
they come too near they may get wet.
We haven't got any time to FOOL with
savages."
As they spoke. another canoe carrying
seven people shot out from behind an
island ahead, and the two came close
together dead ahead Of the ship The
boatmen had stopped padding now, and
We're holding up what looked Ike HaSS
in the air. and waving them.
They've got a white flag there. SAID
an old seaman. who knew something or
the region and is natives, and that
earth n white flag means peace. but
down hear It's war Likely they've got
some bows and arrows in their canoes.
As the ship drew close to the boats.
however, the objects were seen to be
skins OF birds and animals. The people
would first wave them violently toward
the Coya and then point theoretically
toward their mouths
THEY want to trade their skins for rum
and tobacco" said the old sailor.
Iy this time the Coya was within few
rods Of the nearest canoe, and the officers
could see the natives very plainly. IL
they We're Terra del Fuegans. the most
hideOus race on earth so travellers and
sailors say In spite OF the bitter cold,
most II them were naked, but their bodies
glistened with the blubber with which |
they smear themselves for warmth. They |
were short and squat, with black hair !
long and matted. snub noses. fiat cheeks, |
long squinting eyes, wide mouths, promi-
ncnt teeth. and an indescribable express |
sion OF duh ferocity and malevolence-
I'm the intervals Of waving their skins |
they shouted In gutteral tones. accom-
panying their words with uncouth ges-
lures. There were two women in one
boar. and they were entirely naked, and
we're II possible. more hideOus than the
men. one Of them carried something ON
Ter back. The officers Of the Coya. who
we're looking through glasses. AT first
hought that this object was d monkey
)ut atterward concluded that il was
probably the wOmans baby.
Presently man. rather taller than the
)therS, picked his way 70 the Prov of the
learest canoe and stood there mOtiOning |
% his companions 20 give him the floor
evidently ne was chief. for the others !
'heycd him. He turned toward the |
teamship and began speech. lie was
ltred IN blue frOck coat. very long, |
nd open down the whole length. A
lumber. OF brass buttons presumably
AIKEN from The coat were fastened M |
is hair. The remainder of his costume
Onsisted OF large tattoo mark on his
rnast. lie bore himself with the easy
manner ~ man who knows that he is I
'ell dressed and master of the situation
or few moments he talked and gest-
red toward the ship, which was rapidly
There was some danger
nat the canoes would be- run down, for |
hey were almost directly ahead. Capt
Iullah ran forward and, motioning them S
way, shouted.
No time TO stop. Get out Of our way" Il
The sayages understood the gesture If
Of the words. II daWned upon their +
lief that the majesty Of his presence
nd the glory OF his raiment had failed +
Impress the ships people and that
icy We're going 10 pass him. a mighty
an, with as little regard as If he were
dead fish lie emitted one long howl OF II
ee. and as the ship glidel by only a y
~ rods away every Terra del Fuegan | I
9oIn canoes Jumped up. and, with &
-ndish yells. hrandished clubs. paddles +
ld clen'ncd lists at the people on the | q
lya's deck The chief was particularly Il
ndctlEe' ana after the ship had passed
didn't notice the swell bearing down !
the canoe. 1t arrived Just as the @
llel was IN the midst OF an impasson-
outburst, struck the boat heavily. and k
,Pel tne orator neatly overheard. His 5
movers hauled him out, still bowling h
10 eeStrrlng, and the last that the a.
'ya's people could distinguish of him v
vas holding up his frock coat on r.
ddle TO dry al
The steamship went on to Callao. got o
J. cargo OF Nitro, cotton. and WOOL and II
'aIncd back. Everyone aboard kent n
di To l'choAN TOT t4e Terra del FIcguug c|
none was seen. The voyage home a
-7 uneventfui. When a sun rcportc. r
arlcd the shin at the Erie Basin. New m
rk. Capt. Hullah was not abroad. but le
let steward Lapthorne had something h'
tell Of the Terra del Fuegans II
Ihey are unsOciable. az A rule" soid ~
ana are seldom seen by ships. 90 q
'lonally, however. when a shin gets IL
ieht IN the straits at night and lavs 81
until morning rather than take the m
ince or navigation among the Islands IN
me darkness, the natives come ont Su
N skins and furs 10 trade. There
TWO things they always want-tobac-
ana rum. They chew the tobacco raw
'usly. and they viii drink themselves
o insensibility quicker than any PEG
on earth. once I'm while they win
an Oh ships boat for their goods 7
usually IT is the drink or tobacco
Z they demand. They are the lurliest gOC
PIE on earth and the most repulsiva the
!, ,,heX live IN the worst place In he I~
iI. II IS difficult TO believe when Won aD'
them tnat they are really human az
seen chlmpanZees thar ia',i, 1,''' t.l. Of
intelligent" '0ON'N JUST 2Jtl
sri