The sun., 1894-09-16

an infant would keep II in her Ian. The squavs
peddlcd, the men used the weapons.
Darwin aays, in treating Of Yahsan mechan-
ical skill: Their canoe, their most ingenious
work, poor - Il Il, has remained the same for
the last $50 years" When one comes 10 know
the Yaheans well he begins 20 wonder first
whether the canoe is their most ingenious work,
but he wonders most Of all how any man, and
especially a man surrounded by sailors, could
say Of II poor ns IL is." There is but one fea-
turs Of the canoe that is bad: IL rots quickly.
II IL old and frail after six months use. The
seaeoing gold hunters Of the region will tell the
traveller in these days that the Yahgan canoe
remained the same during $50 years because no
better canoe can possibly be made with the ma
terials Of the region. The missionaries say the
same thing now, though when they first arrived
they were absolutely sure that they could make
q better one out Of solid log.
But one may doubt whether the Yahgan canoe
shows greater ingenuity than Yahgan weapons
and implements for obtaining food do. Mention
has been made OF the shell axe. 1t was made OF
a hve-inch clam shell, OF one larger. A rounded
stone was lashed with sinew to the hinge side
Of the shell To give weight and make good
hand hold. Then the opposite side was ground
20 q cutting edge by rubbing away the softer
inner or convex surface on smooth
rock. Yahgsn chips made with this tool
we're small, but to see the rapidity with
which an old Yahgan makes the blows,
or. better STILL TO see tho wavy surface
Of q strip Of wood dressed with the shell axe,
is q matter OF interest worth q Journey TO
tho region. With this tool the Yahgan felled
trees. or fashioned his harpoons, or stripped
tho blubber from a stranded whale, or trimmed
his ocr long bangs, as occasion required. When
compared with the stone axes OF other tribes
that knew not iron, II emphasized striking diff
ferences between him and them. The shell axe
was frail, but keen-edged II required a quick
but delicate hand to manipulate It. The stone
axe was blunt and heavy. 1mpe1led by rude
hand, It smashed its way through whatever OPP
posed it's progress. With the shell axe in hand, |
we begin tn perc eive somewhat OF the mental |
habits and character Of the Yahgan Indian.
Then there were his harpoons. have one of |
which the head made from a whale rib, Is 25A |
inches long. To make diagram OF 1t let the |
reader place q dot on sheet of paper 10 repre- |
sent the point and then draw from this dot two |
straight lines that shall dlverge from each |
other only one inch and three-quarters when 81 |
inches long. That will give an idea Of the beauti-
full taper Of the weapon. II has q single barb, |
At once deep and strong. II is secured TO the
shaft in such way that when seal was struck
the harpoon head dropped from It's place IN the
shaft, or handle, after which the handle was
lowed broadside on through the water by tho
wounded beast.
Another harpoon head twenty -one inches lcng
Ia but one inch wide and half inch thick at the
base, but instead OF one heavy barb near the
base IL has a series Of twenty-six small ones
,long one side These barbs hook back like
sharks teeth, and are about as keen n-pointed.
Nothing Of better shape to hold fast could he
ievised by q ishhook maker. Indeed. the turtle
hunters of the West Indies, who have q steel
...A H.. .hA...
formed barbs The harpoon Of one barb is for
,eals, offers. and small whales Clarge whales
we're never attacked unless stranded. while tho
,ther form was for the various kinds OF birds
'ound in the region. Two or three of the bird
aarpoons, when dashed to q long pole, served as
|. nsh spear Nor were these handles merely
,apl nes cut in the forest. The Yahgan used q
perfectly round handle for one harpoon and a