CHAPTER VH 

 LIFE IN PATAGONIA 



FROM the dribbling warfare described in the 

 last chapter, with clouds of winged things for 

 principal enemy, let us go back once more to that 

 sterner conflict with hostile men, in which the iso- 

 lated little colony has so often been involved dur- 

 ing its century of existence. One episode from 

 its eventful history I wish to relate, for in this 

 instance the Patagonians had, for once, to oppose 

 a foreign and civilized foe. The story is so 

 strange, even in the romantic annals of South 

 America, as to seem almost incredible. The main 

 facts are, however, to be found in historical docu- 

 ments. The details given here were taken from 

 the lips of persons living on the spot, and who 

 had been familiar with the story from childhood. 

 Very early in this century the Brazilians became 

 convinced that in the Argentine nation they had a 

 determined foe to their aggressive and plunder- 

 ing policy, and for many years they waged war 

 against Buenos Ayres, putting forth all their 

 feeble energies in operations by land and sea to 

 crush their troublesome neighbor, until 1828, when 

 they finally abandoned the contest. During this 



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