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PATAGONIAN BRANCH. The characters of the Patagonian race, till 

 recently, have been but imperfectly detailed. The great stature of the 

 men attracted the notice of the early voyagers to the southern regions 

 of America ; but, even on this point, the testimonies of different tra- 

 vellers are very contradictory. By Commodore Biron and his crew, who 

 sailed through the Magellanic Straits in 1764, the common height of the 

 Patagonians was estimated at eight feet and upward ; but the very indi- 

 viduals seen by Commodore Biron were measured by Captains Willis and 

 Carteret, in 1776, and found to be only from six feet six inches, to six 

 feet seven inches in height. Such is their stature, also, as given by M. 

 Bougainville. Other writers confirm this statement. Tribes, however, 

 of an inferior stature occupy the regions of Patagonia ; and the Puelches, 

 or gigantic Patagonians, are a nomadic people, not always to be met with 

 on the coast of that miserable portion of America. 



According to Capt. Fitzroy, the Patagonians are divided into four 

 parties, each occupying a separate territory : their country extends from 

 the River Negro to the Strait of Magalhaens, or Magellan : they are tall 

 in stature, with bulky bodies, and large heads and features ; but their 

 limbs are neither so muscular nor so large-boned as might be anticipated 

 from their height and bulk. The colour of the Patagonians is of a 

 rich reddish-brown, between that of rusty iron and clear copper, rather 

 darker than copper, but not so dark as old mahogany. The colour of 

 the females is about that of pale copper. " Nothing," says Capt. Fitzroy, 

 " is worn upon the head, except their rough, lank, and coarse black hair, 

 which is tied above the temples, with a fillet of platted, or twisted, sinews. 

 A large mantle, made of skins sewed together, loosely gathered about 

 them, adds so much to the bulkiness of their appearance, that one ought 

 not to wonder at their having been called gigantic. I am not aware that 

 a Patagonian has appeared, during late years, exceeding in height six 

 feet and some inches ; but I see no reason to disbelieve Falkner's account 

 of the Cacique Cangapole, whose height, he says, was seven feet and 

 some inches." The head of the Patagonian is broad, but not high, and, 

 in general, the forehead is small and low ; the brow is prominent ; the 

 eyes are small, black, and restless ; their position is oblique ; the outline 

 of the face is roundish, but the cheek-bones are large and projecting, 

 and give great breadth to the upper part of the face ; the nose is 

 rather depressed, narrow between the eyes, but broad at the nostrils, 

 which are large and patulous ; the lips are thick and coarsely formed, 

 with the edges turned out ; and the mouth is very wide : the chin is 

 broad and prominent; the hair of the head is long, loose, harsh, and 

 black ; the face and body are almost destitute of hair, and, where it 

 appears, it is always plucked out : there are no eyebrows, though, as 

 stated, the superorbital ridge is very prominent ; and this deficiency pro- 



