Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

SIGNS — PAIXT SHYNESS. 177 sinews of birds or animals ; but, to make a show, they some- times stick feathers, bits of cloth, or any trash given to them, into these head-bands. White feathers, or white down, on the fillet, is a sign of hostility, or of being prepared for war. Red is the favourite colour, denoting peace, or friendly intentions, and much admii-ed as ornamental. Red paint, made with ochre, is profusely used. Their white* paint is added to the red when preparing for war ; but the marks made are mere daubs, of the rudest, if of any design. Black is the mourning colour. After the death of a friend, or near relation, they blacken themselves with charcoal, and oil or grease. Any sort of clay is used, if their paint is scarce, to preserve warmth rather than as an improvement to their appearance. When discovered by strangers, the instant impulse of a Fuegian family is to run off into the wood with their children, and such things as they can carry with them. After a short time, if nothing hostile is attempted by the intruders, and if they are not too numerous, the men return cautiously, making friendly signs, waving pieces of skins, rubbing and patting their bellies, and shouting. If all goes on quietly, the women fre- quently return, bringing with them the children; but they always leave the most valuable skins hidden in the bushes. This hasty concealment of seal or otter skins is the result of visits from sealers, who frequently robbed Fuegian families of every skin in their possession, before the natives understood the mo- tives of their expeditions in boats into the interior waters of Tierra del Fuego. Sometimes nothing will induce a single indi- vidual of the family to appear ; men, women, and children hide in the thick woods, where it would be almost impossible to find them, and do not show themselves again until the strangers are gone : but during the whole time of their conceal- ment a watchful look-out is kept by them upon the motions of their unwelcome visitors. Scarcity of food, and the facility with which they move from one place to another in their canoes, are, no doubt, the reasons • Aluminous earth, indurated pipe clay, or decomposed feldspai-.. VOL. ir. N