52 



nations. Were the civil manners and innocent im- 

 provements of Europe introduced among them, they 

 would soon become a people deserving of universal 

 esteem ; but, under the present system, this happy 

 change appears impossible to be effected. 



Ail those nations whom either the nature of the 

 climate or a sense of decency has induced to clothe 

 themselves, have made use at first of loose garments, 

 as being the most easily made. But the Araucanians, 

 from their great attachment to war, Avhich they con- 

 sider as the only true source of glory, have adopted 

 the short garment, as best suited to martial conflicts. 

 This dress is made of wool, as was that of the Greeks 

 and Romans, and consists of a shirt, a vest, a pair of 

 short close breeches, and a cloak in form of a scapu- 

 lary, with an opening in the middle for the head, 

 made full and long so as to cover the hands and de- 

 scend to the knees. This cloak is called poncho, and 

 is much more commodious than our mantles, as it 

 leaves the arms at liberty, and may be thrown over 

 the shoulder at pleasure ; it is also a better protec- 

 tion from the Vvind and the rain, and more conveni- 

 ent for riding on horseback, for which reason it is 

 commonly worn not only by the Spaniards in Chili, 

 but by those of Peru and Paraguay. 



The shirt, vest and breeches are always of a green- 

 ish blue or turquois, which is the favourite colour 

 of the nation, as red is that of tlie Tartars. The 

 poncho is also, among persons of inferior condition, 

 of a greenish blue, but those of the higher classes 

 wear it of different colours, cither white, red or blue, 

 with stripes a span broad, on which are wrought, with 



