The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-03-08
DWELL IN CAVES
A Steamer Bearded BY Strange lnbe a
The Magellan Straits.
ARE KNOWN AS ALACUFS
Wears No Clothing and Live on Raw
Fish-I,o Not Know How to Make
Fire-:a Hint 10 Civilized Moth
ers Whose Babies Are Given to
Crying.

! The British steame. Strathesk.
! which is discharging cargo OF fer
tilizer at the foot OF Columbus street,
had most interesting voyage ee-
tween IQuiQue and Charleston. and
she encountered many strange peo-
ples. SAYS The News and Courier.
But the strangest Of these was the
tribe OF Alacufs. met by the vessel
in the Straits OF Magellan. This
tribe came out 10 meet the ship from
the north shore OF the straits. while
the vessel was lying at anchor. TIE
officers were thus. enabled to learn
many OF their customs. and to e1-
change gifts with them.
/, was at late hour OF the night
that it was reported 70 the captain cS
the vessel that a party OF strange
looking natives were approaching the
ship in "dug-outs. uttering loud
cries and gesticulating wildly. Their
actions were easily described by the
watch. because Of the fullness OF the
neon. All hands were called on
deck. and they prepared FOR trouol"
However. the natives came alongside.
and showed signs Of wishing to have
friendly intercourse with the men On
the vessel. and they were accordingly
allowed TO come aboard.
The men only came on board. leav-
ing the women In the boats. All that
any OF the natives wore was very
serene smile. The men on the Sras-
hesk began a search for old clothes
TO give to the natives. but when the
garments were finally distributed. the
natives were ignorant OF their proper
use, and many ludicrous situations
resulted. For instance. when the
second officer presented one man with
a pair OF old sea boots. he immediate
" took them 70 the spouse and the
latter held them up fo7 short IN
spect!on and then placed her baby N
one OF them. One tall. swarthy iei-
low drew s:IT hat from the pile or
clothing. and went away with the hat
on his head and Z very satisfied look
On his face. The officers did not
state whether or not he had anything
on. the rest Of his body.
These natives were most priC!tlVe
IN their mode Of living. and appeared
to be little removed from monkeys
They dwell in caves. and. as has been
mentioned before. wore no clothing
whatever. The men Of the Strathesk
are not sure whether or not the ma
lives have ye, acquired the art OK
making fire. At least. they did not
see any hres from the ship. and they
did see that the people never cooked
their food. They appeared to i've
chiefly on raw fish. which they
caught b. diving into the water. ana
their principal beverace was kinc
OF tea brewed from herbs. which they
called natl.
Their inventive or creative art ap~
oeared to be 81 its highest n the
carving CT rude mat! cups from
grounds. These were the only things
besides raw fish. which they had TO
offer the men Of the Srathesk. The
latter noted many queer customs
among these primitive people. one
OF the most singular OF which was tae
action taken ty mo;he. 10 stop she
c-vioc OF her baby When the In
FAINT began 20 sGuall. the mother I'M
mersed /, up 20 It's neck in the Icy
water along the shore. and this treat
mcnt would hush the cries at once