Tensas gazette., 1915-03-05

opening leading to Woollya.
Surrounded by Mountains.
Still keeping on our way, we reached
the south arm of the Beagle channel.
Gigantic and lofty mountains seemed
to form the portals to a new passage.
Cape Mitchell was rounded swiftly.
and there appeared high. dark cliffs.
and what seemed all but perpendicu-
lar mountains towering upward to the
sky. their gloomy surface diversified
in pleasing manner by silvery cas-
cades trickling down from vast
heights, and with lovely wooded
patches, interspersed with sylvan
coves and other pretty vagaries OF
nature in ravines and cliffs and
arches.
1t was a wild and superb gorge; one
could have stopped and gazed at the
varied scene for hours, but it rapidly
passed from our view as we neared
the Murray narrows.
A little farther on the view became
more confined; four islets lay ahead
Of US. one of them being Button isle;
on our oblique right appeared the
bleak and rough mountains Of Hoste
island. and on our left the high preci-
pices of Navarin.
This passage through Beagle chan
mel. which have been describing, was
discovered in 1880 by Captain Fitzroy.
At that time little was known Of these
distant portions Of the globe.
While stationary in Button sound.
not far from Woolya, which is a land
locked bay, with towering cliffs In
irregular peaks all round. the scene
was diversified by the natives. who
fiocked around swarming and gesticu-
lating.
The most remarkable traits In
Fuegian's countenance are extremely
small eyes, which are sunken, black
and restless; the nose always narrow
between the eyes. hollow in profile.
outline or almost fat; the mouth
coarsely formed; the hair black and
lank; 1t does not fall OF. nor does 1t
turn gray till they are very old; they
would have a struggling beard. but
scrupulously pull out every hair with
tweezers made of mussel shells. Their
chins vary much; that of q Tekeenica
is smaller and less prominent than
that of an Alikhoolip, in whom they
are large and very projecting.
The average height of q Fuegian II
q little over FIVE feet. His arms and
legs are less sinewy than those Of an
American. Most Of them are rather
bowlegged and turn their feet little
inward in walking. They have q Gus
tom of sitting long ON their heels.
which strains their knee joint 30 much
that when Strengthened there are con-
siderable folds or wrinkles above and
below 1t.
Natives Sometimes cannibais.
They wear q small fillet round the
head, usually composed Of sinews Of
birds; in this they sometimes stick
feathers or any other trash.
| Their favorite color is red, denoting
J peace or friendly Intentions. Red
paint. made with ocher is profusely
used. They add white to the red when
preparing for war, but black for
mourning. After the death of friend
or relation they blacken themselves
with charcoal, mixed with oil.
Any sort of clay is used. II their
paint Is scarce, to preserve warmth.
rather than as an improvement to
their appearance. They are often sub
ject to a scarcity Of food, and gladly
eat anything that comes to hand. even
their relatives. principally the ~oid
women. O
They live on seals. birds. fish and
particularly shellfish. edible fungus.
eggs, etc.
Their only idea of a superior being
is that of a satanic character. They
make great lamentations at the death
Of relative. pulling their hair. beat
ing their breasts, etc. They are su-
perstitious and fear a big man in the
woods. q spirit of evil, who is certain
to know of every word or action.
Their manner Of disposing Of their
dead, when they do not eat them, 10
to place them under a mound Of
branches and leaves wrapped in skins.