The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-17
TOUGH-SKiNNED PEOPLE.
Natives of Terra Del Fueyo Frequentl
Sleep Naked in the Snow.

Natives of Terra Del Fueyo Frequently
Sleep Naked in the Snow.
Recent explorations of the strange
land of Terra del Fuego have revealed
"a curious race of people whose Skin
is so thick that they go naked in the
coolest weather. The discovery OF
these people is not altogether sur
prise, for their existence has beer
limited at more than once by scien-
tific men. In paper lately written
by Herbert Spencer he refers to them
as people who, in their yvretched
islands, go almost naked while the
falling snow melts on their bodies"
This iE cited as an instance fthe effect
OF habit and environment on individu.
ais. He argues that at some time
in the remote past these hardy people
were as susceptible to cold as civilized
inhabitant of the north, but that
through force of circumstances they
have been clothed with shin of iron
Terra del Fuego is an intricate medley
of islands situated just off the south
ern point of South America. and is sep
arated from the mainland (Patagonia)
by the Straits of Magellan. The islands
present an appearance of barrenness
the scenery being rocky and desoiate.
They are named Terra del Fuego, land
of fire. from the circumstance that
they are of volcanic origin. The high.
est mountains are from 6,o00 to 1000
feet above sea Level, and are covered
with snow. The climate is probably
the worst on the face of the Garth. At
this point the waters of the Atlantic
and Pacific meet and dispute the right
of way, and their strife is accompanied
by terrific tempests. Violent rain and
snowstorms occur at every season OF
the year.
The Patagonians on the island are
known as Onas. Their numbers arc
estimated at 1000. Two other races
are known, the Yaghans of the south
and the Alcalufs Of West Fuego. The
Alcalufs are thought to have come
over from the mainland. It is among
the Yaghans, who dwell in the more
rugged and exposed parts of the island,
that the strange tribe of "iron men"
have been found. These are the true
aborigines of the archipelago. 1t must
have taken ages to turn their skin into
a covering of bark capable of resisting
the fearful attacks of an abominable
climate. They are probably the direct
descendants of primitive race by
which the islands have been occupied
from vastly remote period
These curious people are about five
feet in height. Their appearance is
described as follows: Low brow, large
lips, fat nose, loose, wrinkled skin;
black, restless eyes, very wide apart;
upkempt hair, and head and chast dis
proportionately large compared with
the extremely slender and outwardIy
curved legs, conveying an impression
of topheaviness. Their mental quail
ties are on the same low Level, as is in
dictated by the almost total absence
Of clothing under such Indictment skies.
2 his is the feature about the iron men
that has attracted the attention and
aroused the curiosity of the few trav-
elers who have visited this wild region.
But it is not so remarkable after all
that they should go about naked in the
snow and cold. It was either this or
Perish. as there is nothing on the
island which they could manufacture
into clothing. The wonder is that they
should have survived after SO many
years of exposure. Nature has been
Tery kind to them. AS they were un-
able to clothe themselves she has pro-
vided them with a garment that is
good protection from cold that would
freeze TO death a moro tender inhabi-
tant of civilized countries. 1t i. said
that these hardy people sleep out of
doors as readily as under cover.
Draughts have no terror for them.
Their occupation consists chiefly in
catching fish, and they are therefore
obliged to spend much of their time
on the coast, where the weather is
much more severe than in the interior
But even on the coast they have been
known to lie down, absolutely without
coverings of any sort, and sleep sound
ly through snow and tempest, waking
thoroughly refreshed in the morning.
Such diseases as consumption. pieu-
risy, pneumonia, rheumatism. colds in
the head and bronchitis are unknown.
This would seem to prove that the best
way to protect ones self from the
rigors of bad climate is to accustom
the body TO exposure.
Aside from their rhinoceros-like
skins these Yaghans are interesting IN
other ways. Representing the very
lowest order of human, intelligence, it
was to be expected that they would be
brutal in their treatment OF women.
Their brutality in this respect goes to
such extremes that, when food is
scarce, they kill the old women and eat
them-not very tender morsels, one
might imagine, considering the years
and the toughness Of the Skins OF the
victims. They are quite without affec-
ton for their offspring, whom they
have been known to throw overheard
from their canoes in rough weather.
They resort 10 many repulsive prac-
tees connected with their food and
social habits.-N. Y. World
A.