Marriage Strange Appearance And Queer Ways Of Tho Jagan Tribe

Among the most interesting observationa mado by Lieutenant Bove, iu Terra del Fuego, aro those on the Japan tribe, which counts nbout 3,000 individuáis, who inhabit a portion of the southwest of tho country. We give the account in Lieutenant Bove's words: "Tho .Tn.crn.iis imnress one as il VOOT race. In general, the men are scareely more than of medium stature, while the vromen rarcly reach it. ïhe faces oí tliis race are round, largo, and flat, with high check bones, low foreheads, larare flat noses, very black and resüesa eyes, wicle apart, large turnia Jips, ana strong jaws, furnished with beautiful teeth. The head and chest are disproportionately largo compared to the eitreme glenoemesa of arma and legs,:md it is a marvel how-lhe latter can support tbe wcll-developed trunk and heavy nead. ín spito of tiiis strange formation, both men and women have uncommon strength, and I have seen them carry weights th'at wótud have taxed the robnstest of our sailors. No less surprising is the smallness of their hands and feet, which, if a beauty, is vantageous to the meu, who can carry only onc or two objects in their hands at the same time. They liave. rough, lustreless black liair, whioh they wear long, and fallihg óver the fac-e and shoulders. Sonrio bind it wilh a leather strap, but most tot it graw to such an extent that they look more like furies than human beings. Though a Fuegian may marry as many wives as hc. pleaaee, he si-ldom takes more than four; and even wilh that small numbér it is difficult to preserve domestic peace. The wigwam is the sceno of daiiy battles, and sometimes the prettiest of the wivcs paya with her life for the preference of her lmsband. Sometimes, however, the wives all unite against their common lmsband. The girls begin to lumt for husbands at ten or twelve years oí' age, but they only become mothers at the age of seventeen or eighteen. Tlm niiin maMHi ír 1fi Vñflffl of age. The marriages are dictated by convenience, and are a matter of sale and purchase rather than of love or eciprocal sympathy. The father ïooses from among the suitors for his aughter the one who is strongest, most exterous and docile to his wishes, and xes the number of furs to be given, nd days that his son-in-law must work or him. A canoe, spears and harpoon re to be the propcrty of the bride. When all is settled tho bride is inovmed, and, whatever may be her seniments, she takes good care to show no csistance to her father, and is taken away to her husband's wigwam. But ;enerally the father's choice is also the aughter's, for nowhere do strength and dexterity niake a greater imprVsinn t.hiiTi nnori the Fiie.inan srirlS. who 1 y i' rom a crooked or cleformeil man as rom a pariah. Then; is no feastor wedding ceremoív. The bride simply goes to her luisjand's wigwam, or he establishes himelfinthatof her father. But some ules h:vVe to be observed. If the husiand wishes to continue to eat the llesh f the guanaco or seal he' must take mrifvinB1 liath ir. the sea thé movnina liter his wedding. Such a bath, es iccially in the deptb of winter, is n loubt oftea the cause of many of th( nahidics lo which the yoimg Fuègian ire subject. The Fnegian women art very prolific. Sevcu or eight is ih average number of cbildren, but oftei t, stül yonng woman will have ten o twelve. The chüdren, however, seklom all sui-vive their parents, for the moitality botween two and ten years of age is extraordinary. The variable ana ïigid climate, the want of nourishment, the terrible heat and bad treatment by the parents are the chief causes of thedeath of the miserable infanta yet imarnied ence. And another evil, fntroduced by civilization, has come to add to tbose that so ravage these unhappy nativos. The sinallness of the new-born cliildren is such that childbirth is extremely easy. When the great moment arrivés the future mother leaves her wigwam, accompauied by a few female friends, and seeks a secure retreat in the woods. The very next day the young mother is of ten seen tishing m a oanoe or srathering shullfish along tlie coast. The molher's lovo lasts, it may be said, until the babe is weaned, aftor whieli affection rapidly diminishes as the child grows, and is cornpletely gone when the latter attains the age of seven or eight years. At this age the parents have no more authority over the boys, who go out and come in as they like, and are never asked what they are doing. The only lasting love in the heart of a Fuegian is the love of self. How of ten have 1 Been i father devouHng a pice of meat or bread while his 'famisliing wives and ohildren silently watehed him with their hungry eycs, timidly ])icking up the crumbs thnt feil from his mouth, and davting ravenously upon the remnants throvvn to them by the ferocious head of the iaruily. As there are no family ties, tho word "authority" is void of meaning among the Fuegians. Every family enjoys the utmost indapendenee, and only the neod of common defense iuduees a few families to form a small tribe. - - i