40 MEMOIR OF 



defence, he communicates it to the others, who exe- 

 cute it, if they approve. But no one is forced to 

 take part in it, and no penalty is exacted from those 

 who absent themselves. They have studs, and abun- 

 dance of horses : many of them have bridles, with 

 iron bits. The men ride on the bare backs ; the 

 women use a very simple hair cloth. Their only 

 weapons are a lance, eleven feet long, with a sharp 

 iron point, and very short bows. When we consi- 

 der that the Charruas have given so much trouble to 

 the Spaniards, and have spilt more of their blood 

 than the armies of the Incas or of Montezuma, it 

 will be concluded that they are a very numerous 

 nation. This, however, is far from being the case, 

 and at present they have not more than 400 warriors. 

 For their subjugation we have often employed more 

 than a thousand veterans, either in one body, or in 

 distinct parties, and much camage has been the 

 consequence ; but there they still are, unsubdued 

 and dreaded. 



" They never remain in a state of celibacy ; and 

 their marriages are effected with the greatest sang 

 froid. The suitor requests his bride at the hands 

 of her parents ; and she never refuses, however old 

 or ugly he may be. Upon a man marrying, he 

 forms a distinct family, and works for their sup- 

 port ; for previously he lived at the expense of his 

 parents, in complete idleness, without going to 

 war, or assisting at their public meetings. Poly- 

 gamy is freely practised ; they teach nothing to, 

 and keep nothing from their children, who, on 



