698 THE QUERANDIS OR PEHUELCHES. 



sisted entirely on the produce of the chase ; polygamy was 

 general ; their children were not taught to obey their parents, 

 while they appear to have been destitute of all family affec- 

 tion. Their beverage, called chicha — a name common through- 

 out South America — was prepared from honey and water. 

 Although, during lifetime, relations exhibited no afiection to- 

 wards each other, at the death of 'one of them the survivors 

 underwent many cruel funeral ceremonies. They ultimately 

 assisted the Spaniards in the extermination of several of the 

 neighbouring tribes, but were eventually either destroyed, or 

 brought completely under subjection. 



THE QUERANDIS OR PEHUELCHES. 



The Querandis or Pehuelches — the principal tribe of the 

 Pampas Indians — were, from the first, the chief opponents of 

 the Spaniards in Buenos Ayres. They stole their cattle, made 

 captives of their wives and children, and cut off the soldiers 

 and estancieros, or cattle-farmers, on numerous occasions. They 

 were vain, haughty, and daring. Unlike the Charruas, they 

 paid great attention to their dress and appearance, neither 

 painting nor cutting their hair. The men wore their locks 

 turned up and secured at the top of the head; while the women 

 divided theirs in the centre, wearing them on each side in a 

 large clump, fastened by a ribbon, the ends falling down ovei- 

 each ear nearly to the waist. They wore combs, and were in 

 every respect cleanly. The women also wore necklaces, with 

 hanging ornaments. Their costume was a poncho on festive 

 occasions, highly ornamented ; while they wore leather boots. 

 Although, when galloping across the Pampas, they went totally 

 naked, they carried their clothes with them — either to put 

 on during cold weather, or to appear in state when meeting 



