THE TEHUELCHE INDIANS. 267 



carcass of their fallen comrade, often approaching so near that we would 

 be compelled to suspend operations and urge the spectators to remove to 

 a more respectful distance. 



The arts and industries of the Tehuelches are entirely limited to the 

 manufacture of their tents, clothing and bedding, such tools as are used 

 in the construction of these necessary articles and in fashioning such 

 implements as they use in the pursuit and capture of the guanaco, rhea and 

 a few other animals of less importance found in Patagonia. For an 

 uncivilized people they are remarkably peaceable in disposition and of 

 industrious habits. Throughout the year the men find more or less 

 employment in hunting the guanaco and rhea, from which they derive 

 almost their only supply of food. Without firearms, they depend entirely 

 upon their skill with the bolas, assisted by dogs and horses, for the cap- 

 ture of these and other animals. The rhea is not only a swift runner, but 

 remarkably wary. Neither his speed nor his alertness, however, suffice 

 to protect him from the Tehuelche, whose skill with the bolas and expert 

 horsemanship are aided by the remarkably level nature, over vast areas, 

 of the Patagonian plains. The bolas are almost the only weapon used 

 by the southern Tehuelches. They are of two kinds. One is made of two 

 small round stones of unequal size, covered with raw-hide and united by 

 a slender, but very strong plaited or twisted rope of the same material 

 and about eight feet in length. This, which is known as the two-ball bola, 

 is used almost exclusively in capturing the rhea. Grasping the smaller of 

 the two stones in the right hand, the other is whirled rapidly above the 

 head until the horseman comes within range of the swiftly fleeing bird, 

 when the bolas are thrown, and if the throw be successful, strike the neck, 

 body or legs in such manner that the whirling balls wind the slender rope 

 about the same, and thus impede the progress of the bird until the hunter 

 comes up and despatches it. The second variety of bola is made of three 

 round stones, two of equal size and one somewhat smaller. All three are 

 covered with rawhide, and to each of the two larger a strong rawhide 

 thong is attached. At a distance of about four feet these two thongs 

 unite to form a single one, which is also about four feet in length, and is 

 attached to the smallest of the three stones. When in use, this smaller 

 stone is held in the hand, and the two larger ones are whirled rapidly 

 above the head and discharged so as to strike and entangle the legs of 

 the guanaco, or other animal pursued by the hunter. These three-ball 



