574 



THE LIVING RACES OF MANKIND 



if it can be obtained. . . . 

 When sitting by the fireside, 

 or even when walking about, 

 the furred part of the mantle 

 is generally kept over the 

 mouth as the Tehuelches 

 aver that the cold wind causes 

 sore gums a habit which 

 assists in rendering their 

 guttural and at all times rather 

 unintelligible language more 

 difficult of comprehension to 

 the novice. Their potro boots, 

 or buskins, are made from 

 the skin of a horse's hock, 

 and occasionally from the 

 leg of a large puma, drawn 

 on up to the knee and 

 fastened round the foot. It 

 is thus worn for a day or 

 two until the boots have taken 

 the shape of the foot, when 

 the leather is cut at the toes 

 and sewn up to fit. When 

 the sole is worn, or in very 

 wet or snowy weather, hide 

 overshoes are worn besides, 

 and the footprints thus made 

 are really large enough to 

 carry the idea of giants' feet, 

 and partly explain the term 

 ' Patagon,' or large feet, 

 applied to these Indians by 

 their Spanish discoverers." 

 In riding, the boots are 

 secured with garters, which 

 are ordinarily made of bright- 

 coloured woven bands, but in the case of chiefs are of hide ornamented with large silver 

 buckles. In addition to the fillet binding the hair, hats are worn when procurable. 



The mantle of the women is fastened at the throat by a large broad-headed silver 

 pin, by a nail, or by a thorn, according to the circumstances of the wearer; beneath this 

 being a kind of loose shirt, made of some calico stuff, and reaching from the shoulders 

 to the ankles. A broad belt, ornamented with the favourite blue beads and bosses of silver 

 or brass, serves to confine the mantle when travelling. The boots are like those of the men, 

 with the exception that the hair is left on the hide of which they are made. In spite 

 of the severity of the climate the children are generally suffered to run about in a state 

 of nudity till between six and eight years of age, and always prefer to be barefoot. Never- 

 theless, they are provided with small mantles, as well as with boots made of soft shamoyed 

 leather from the fore-legs of the guanaco. Both sexes are fond of ornaments, and smear 

 their faces with paint; the latter substance being more rarely applied also to the body, 

 and being said to prevent the skin chapping. The ornaments of the women take the 

 form of necklaces of blue beads or silver, as well as of large square earrings fastened 



Photo by K. Giinther] 



[Berlin. 



A TEHUELCHE MAN. 



