Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-03-24
SOUTH AMERICAN GIANTS.
A Hardy Race That 10 Gradually Becom.
ing Extinct,

Hardy Race That 10 Gradually Bccom.
ing Extinct.
DR.. Frederick A. Cook, of the Bel.
gian Antar cite Expedition. writes in
the Century OF "Ths Giant Indians OF
TERRA del Fueso," his text being it,.
Illustrated with pictures drawn from
photographs by himself.
The Fuegians have been reported,
from time to time, since the country
was first sighted and named by Magel.
Ian in 1920, but to-day they still re.
main almost unknown. In connection
with the voyage of the Belgica we had
unusual opportunities for studying
their wild life and their weather.
beaten land. They are not, as is gen.
orally supposed, one homogeneous
tribe, but three distinct races, with
different languages, different appear.
ances. different habits and homes.
The Onas have thus far evaded all ef-
forts at civilization, have refused mis-.
sionaries, and have. to the present
time, with good reason, mistrusted
white men. They have, in conse,
quence, remained absolutely unknown.
The Onas, as q tribe, have never
been united in common interest, mol
have they ever been led by any one
great chief. They have always beer
divided into small clans under leader
with limited powers, and shese chiefs
have waged constant warfare among
themselves. To the present they have
bo Il kboir xvorok on amino ,oDo kbo;r
own people, but now that sheep-farm.
ers and gold.diggers want their coun.
try, they are uniting to fight their
common enemy.
Physically the Onas are giants.
They are not, however, seven or eight
feet in height, as the early explorers
reported their neighbors and nearest
relatives, tho Patagonians. to be.
Their average height is close to six
feet; a few attain six feet and six
inches, and few are under six feet.
The women are not SO tall, Tut they
are more corpulent. There is perhaps
no race in the world with a more per.
feet physical development than the
Ona men. This unique development
is partly due to the topography of
their country and to the distribution
of game, which makes long marches
constantly necessary. The Ona men
are certainly the greatest cross-coun.
try runners on the American contin.
ent.
The mental equipment OF the Ona
is by no means equal to his splendid
physical development. He under.
stands very we'll the few arts of the
chase which he finds necessary tc
maintain food supply. His game in
the past hos been easily gotten; his
needs have been few, which fact &C.
counts for the lack of inventive skill
portrayed in the instruments of the
chase. The home life, the house, the
clothing-everything portrays this !
lack of progressive skill. Instead OF ,
the children being we'll dressed and |
we'll cared for, as is the rule among |
savage races, they are mostly naked,
poorly fed, badly trained, and alto.
gether neglected, not because Of a lack
of paternal love, but because Of the
mental lethargy Of the people. 1t is
the same as to shelter and garments.
They have abundant material to make
good tents and warm, storm-proof
houses; bnt they simply bunch up a
few branches, and throw to the wind.
ward a few skins, and then SILVER,
OF their miserable exist.
ence.