383 



ou the otFier five dead horses stuffed with straw, and supported 

 eacli upon three stakes. Within the house they found two 

 ponchos, or Indian garments, extended, and the bodies of two 

 men and one woman, upon which the hair and the flesh* were 

 still remaining. On the top of the house was anotlier poncho, 

 rolled up and tied with a coloured woollen band, and in this 

 a pole was fixed, like the pole of a vane, from which eight 

 tassels of wool were suspended. 



Widows are compelled to observe a rigorous mourning ; 

 for a whole year after the husband's death they must keep 

 themselves close shut up in their tents, having no communi- 

 cation with any one, nor ever stirring out except for the 

 common necessaries of life. They must abstain from the flesh 

 of horses, ostriches and guanacoes. and from beef: they must 

 never wash face or hands, but blacken themselves with soot ; 

 and any breach of chastity would be punished with death, by 

 the relations of the husband, in both parties. 



The office of ya, or chief, is hereditary, and all his sons 

 may be chiefs if they can get Indians to follow them ; but the 

 dignity is of so little advantage, that it is not coveted. The 

 chief has tlie power of protecting those who apply to him, 

 of composing or silencing disputes, or of delivering up an 

 offender to be put to death. In these cases his will is the law. 

 Wherever there is no other law it is better to be entirely law- 

 less. These petty despots are prone to bribery, and will sa- 

 crifice their vassals, and even their kindred, when well paid 

 for it. They are esteemed in proportion to their eloquence ; 

 and the chief who is not eloquent has an orator to harangue 

 the people for him. When two or more tribes form an alli- 

 ance against a conmion enemy, they chuse an apo, or com- 

 tnander in chief, from the ablest or most celebrated of the 

 Caziqucs. But this honour, though still nominally elective, has 



Falkner therefore is mistaken in s.-iying they were skeletons. A 

 abstract from the original jeurnals is printed by Charlevoix, in his Hist, 

 du Par^iguay, 



