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

186 SWIMMING TRAINING. Swimming is a favovirite amusement of the Fuegians during summer ; but the unfortunate women are obliged to go out into rather deep water, and dive for sea-eggs in the depth of win- ter as often as in summer. Men, women, and children are excel- lent swimmers ; but they all swim like dogs. Directly they come out of the water they run to the fire, and rub their bodies all over with oil or grease and ochreous earth, to keep out the cold. Swinging between branches of trees, as our children do, is also a favourite pastime, the ropes being made of strips of seal- skin. Frequently the men are lowered down by such ropes over the faces of high cliffs in search of eggs and young birds, or to attack the seal which herd in caves washed by the surf, and inaccessible to man from seaward. When ill, however seriously, they know of no remedies but rubbing the body with oil, drinking cold water, and causing perspiration by lying near the fire, wrapped up in skins. Both men and women are remarkably fond of the little chil- dren, and were always much pleased at any notice taken of them by our parties, when they felt sufficient confidence in us to bring the children forward. Much respect is said to be paid to age ; yet we never saw either- man or woman who appeared to be very old — certainly no one was decrepit. It is rather curious that usually each of these natives is trained to a particular pursuit : thus, one becomes an adept with the spear ; another with the sling ; another with a bow and aiTows; but this excellence in one line does not hinder their attaining a considerable proficiency in all the others.* Hostilities are usually carried on with slings and stones rather than by close encounters ; yet occasional surprises happen, especially when the Oens-men make an attack, and then there is savage work with clubs, stones in tlie hand, and spears. In the winter, when snow lies deep on the ground, the Tekeenica people assemble to hunt the guanaco, which then comes down from the high lands to seek for pasture near the sea. The long legs of the animal stick deeply into the snow and soft boggy ground, disabling him from escape, while the * Mr. Low has seen Fuegians with balls (bolas) in the northern part of their country.