1S92. 



87 



fBriiiton. 



to the Cordilleras.* The words he gives from their tongue — if they 

 can be depended upon — prove it to be an Araucanian dialect. 



Of the Chonos, who were a maritime people on the west coast, 

 we have no linguistic material ; nor can we define the relationship 

 of the Calen and Taijatef, who resided on the shore south of 48° 

 and spoke one tongue. 



In the following table I present a comparison of a limited num- 

 ber of common words in Patagonian vocabularies, beginning with 

 the earliest — that collected by Magellan on his first visit to the 

 straits that bear his name, in 1520. It is interesting to note how 

 little the language has changed in the nearly four centuries which 

 have passed since that period. The list is found in Pigafetta's nar- 

 ration. 



*A. Guinnard, Three Years among the Patagonians, p. 49 et al. (Eng. trans., London, 

 1871). The prayer he inserts in some dialect not clearly stated on p. 163 is almo.st pure 

 Araucanian, as are the numerals on p. 261. It is doubtful if he was ever among the true 

 Patagonians (the Tehuelhet). 



