people, who seem to them alwaj-s in want of provisions, and
tossed about at sea. These natives have a great dishke to
the motion of a ship ; yet, for novelty, they will go afloat when
opportunity offers.
In landing at Gregory Bay, Mr. Low has had much trouble
in preventing the natives from crowding into his boat, all
being anxious to see the vessel. Once, when many strange
Indians (of another tribe) were present, he was obliged to
affect to quarrel with them; and afterwai-ds they behaved
better and were quite civil, but he never allowed his boat to
be grounded. Having left a Dutchman as boat-keeper, tlie
natives teased him into a quarrel, and then dragged him out of
the water, boat and all, with their lassoes, leaving him among
the bushes, frightened and spluttering, while they galloped
off, laughing heartily. The Dutclunan hastened to Mr. Low;
hut while he was gone, the boat was put into the water by the
authors of the trick, who then dashed off at full speed, highly
amused at their feat. Mr. Low gave one of the women a gay
gown; it was the first she had seen; and wishing to suckle
her infant, she put it under the skftt of the gown, and, with
some difficulty, forced the little thing upwards to her breast.
When the Patagonians meet white men, their inclinations
are almost always firiendly; but if they find themselves able to
dictate to the strangers, a tribute of tobacco, bread, muskets,
powder, ball, or such articles as they see and fancy, is often
imposed.
A trading schooner called at Gregory Bay (in the Strait of
Magalhaens) in 1834 Her mate landed, and was asked for
various things which he could not or did not wish to give. The
natives detained him as a prisoner; sent lus boat away; and
kept him till his ransom (tobacco and bread) was sent ashore.
Considerable traffic for knives, swords, muskets, ammunition,
tobacco, bread, and, latterly, spirits, has been kept up between
the southern Patagonians and the vessels which have touched
on their shores (especially at Gregoiy Bay) in going through
the Strait. Their returns have been mantles, skins, and fresh
guanaco meat.
During late years, several persons, run-away seamen and
others, have passed many months—some, indeed, have passed
years—in their company,—living as they live.
In 1833-34, one of the most influential individuals among
them was a Chilian, named San Leon, who had been carried
to Patagoifia by Mr. Brisbane, for the purpose of trading with
the Indians for horses. He ran away from the vessel (1830-32),
and has since lived with the tribe who are generally found
near Gregory Bay. His ivife is the daughter of an old native
who possesses much property (according to their ideas); she
speaks a little Spanish, and interprets for strangers better than
her husband, whose knowledge of the Indian language is very
slight. Bred in Chile, San Leon is a good horseman, and
considered by the Indians to be an excellent hunter.
Mr. Low thinks that the natives would encourage and be
friendly to a settlement of white people, made in Patagonia.
They profess to like white men, and to wish some to live with
them : when old Maria (the woman previously mentioned) was
at the Falkland Islands, Mr. Low told her that he intended
to build a house at Gregory Bay,.and carry wlfite peopfe with
him to live there, at which she and her party (including the
ivizard) seemed to be much pleased.
Mr. Low considers that those natives who live eastward and
northward of the First Narrow are not of the same tribe as
those who are generally about Gregory Bay, with whom, he
says, they are frequently at war. He also thinks that those
who live farther westward, near Otway and Skyring Waters,
form another subdivision. The following notices, written from
his dictation,will show that what I have already stated respecting
these minor tribes, considered as subdivisions of one large
body or nation, cannot be very far wrong :—
During the stay of the Unicorn (Mr. Low’s vessel) in
the channel between Otway and Skjuang Waters, a fire was
made, as a signal to the Indians. They soon began to amve
in small detached parties, some of whom were known to Mr.
Low, whose acquaintance with them had been formed at Gregory
Bay. They travelled in small parties, therefore were not,
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