RACIAL GROUPS HOUGH. 643 



pare the heads of their enemies by removing the skulls and shrink- 

 ing the skins with hot sand. The costume of this figure consists 

 of a headdress and cincture made of bark cloth beaten out and cov- 

 ered with feathers of the toucan and blue chatterer. The necklace, 

 armlets, and leglets are of seeds, beetle wings, monkey teeth, and 

 teeth of the puma. (See pi. 57.) 



DWELLING GROUP OF THE TEHUELCHE INDIAN'S. 



The Tehuelche Indians lire in Patagonia, soutli of the Rio Negro. 

 Fabulous stories are told of their stature ; they are, in fact, among 

 the tallest people in the world. Their food is derived mainly 

 from the chase. They clothe themselves in the skins of animals 

 and their women are expert, not only in dressing hides, but also in 

 sewing them and decorating them with patterns in various colors. 



For a house the Tehuelches cover a framework of sticks with a 

 number of skins sewed together. These shelters, generally open in 

 front, are called toldos, and the furniture consists of only a few 

 rude appliances. 



In this exhibit are shown a tent in process of construction, a 

 finished tent, and a temporary shelter. Men and women are en- 

 gaged in the various industrial activities of the tribe — dressing 

 hides, curing meat, and erecting the tent. (See pi. 58.) 



FAMILY GROUP OF THE TEHUELCHE INDIANS. 



The Patagonians apply to themselves the name Tzoneca, but their 

 neighbors call them Tehuelche, or Southerners. They live on the 

 plains and desert area of southern Patagonia, and all their arts be- 

 long to that region. Their rude tents, or toldos, are made from the 

 hides of animals, and for this purpose the pelts of the guanaco. or 

 small American camel, is especially valuable. These hides are also 

 made into robes by piecing and sewing, the fleshy side being often 

 decorated with patterns in colored earths. Robes are also made from 

 skunk, horse, and rhea skins. Weaving is not practiced, but various 

 fabrics are obtained from tribes to the north. On account of a simi- 

 lar environment, which furnishes almost exclusively animal food, 

 the Tehuelche resembles the Plains Indians of the United States, and 

 like them, are tall, athletic, and most courageous warriors. The 

 group of tribes to which the Tehuelche belong is now on the verge 

 of extinction. The horse, introduced by the Spaniards into America, 

 took kindly to the grassy plains of Patagonia, and the Indians there- 

 upon changed their activities to adapt them to this new domestic 

 animal. On horseback they hunt the guanaco, the rhea, or American 

 ostrich, and even the cougar, using the bolas with much skill. 



In this group, the family is on the point of breaking camp. The 

 man, wearing a skunk-skin robe, is ready to mount his horse, holding 





