The record-union., 1896-04-06
SKINS TOUGH As iron.
A Hardy Race of People Who Sleep
Naked in the Snow.
Natives OF Terra del Fuego Endowed
With Peculiar Imperviousness
to Cold.

Recent explorations of the strange
land of Terra del Fuego have revealed
q curious race of people, whose skin is
so thick that they go naked in the cold
est weather. The discovery OF these
people is not altogether surprise, for
their existence has been hinted at more
than once by scientific men. In paper
lately written by Herbert Spencer. he
refers to them as a people who, In
their wretched islands. go almost
naked, while the falling snow melts on
their bodies.' This is cited as an IN
stance of the effect of habit and en-
vironment on individuals. He argues
that at some time in the remote past
these hardy people were as susceptible
to cold as a civilized inhabitant OF the
north, but that, through force OF cir
cumstances, they have been clothed
with a skin of iron. Terra del Fuego is
an intricate medley of islands situated
just off the southern coast of South
America, and is separated from the
main land (Patagonia) by the Straits
OF Magellan. The islands present an
appearance of barrenness, the scenery
being rocky and desolate. They are
from the circumstance that they are Of
volcanic origin. The highest mountains
are from 5000 to 1000 feet above the
sea level, and are covered with snow.
The climate is probably the worst on
the face of the earth. At this point the
waters of the Atlantic and Pacific meet
and dispute the right of way, and their
strife is accompanied by terrific tenn
roi, or,6 G
occur at every season of the year.
The only plants on these islands that
can be eaten are the wild celery and
spoonwort, and the natives are forced
to subsist on shellfsh, which are found
In great abundance. The only quadru-
ped kept in a domestic state by the in
habitants Is the dog, which, in extreme
cases, serves them as an article of food.
The descriptions that have been given
of the natives by different travellers
vary. They are generally described as
short, ugly, beardless race, with long
black hair, of rusty iron color, and oc-
cupying the lowest rank in the scale of
civilization. According to Captain w.
Parker Snow, however, who made a
visit to the island and studied the habits
OF the natives, they are robust looking,
powerful and of middle hight. The
truth of the matter probably is that the
Inhabitants are Of several different
races or tribes. 1t is certain that a
part Of them came over from Pata-
gonia. This is evident from their. huge
stature, e distinguishing feature Of the
natives CT the extreme South American
peninsula.
The Patagonians on the island are
known as Onas. Their numbers are es-
timated at 1000. Two ether races are
known, the Yaghans of the south, and
the Alcalufs of West Fuego The al
calufs are thought to have come over
from the mainland. 1t 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 aborig-
ines of the archipelago. 1t must have
taken ages to turn their skin into COW
ering of bark capable of resisting the
fearful attacks of an abominable cli-
mate. They are probably the direct de-
scendants of primitive race by which
the islands have been occupied from a
vastly remote period.
These curious people are about five
feet in hight. Their appearance is de-
scribed as follows: Low brow large
lips, fat nose, loose, wrinkled skin;
black, restless eyes, very wide apart;
unkempt hair, and head and chest dis
proportionately large compared with
the extremely slender and outwardly
curved legs, conveying an impression of
tcp-heaviness. Their mental qualities
are on the same low level as is indicated
by the almost total absence of clothing
under such inclement skies. This is the
feature about the iron men that has at
tracted the attention and aroused the
curiosity of the few travellers who have
visited this wild region.
But it is not so remarkable, after all,
that they should go 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 so many years of exposure.
Nature has been very kind to them
AS they were unable to clothe them
selves, she has provided them with a
garment that is good protection from
cold that would freeze to death more
tender inhabitant of civilized countries.
II is said that these hardy people sleep
out of doors as readily as under cover
Draughts have no terrors 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, pleurisy
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 ol
a bad climate is to accustom the body
to exposure.
Aside from their rhinoceros-lfke skins
these Yaghans are interesting in othei
ways. Representing the very lowest
order of human intelligence, it was &c
be expected that they would be bruta
in their treatment of women. Theil
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 I'M
agine, considering the years and the
toughness of the skins of the victims
They are quite without affection fol
their offspring, whom they have beer
known to throw overheard from thei
canoes in rough weather. They resor'
to many repulsive practices connected