CHAPTER VII. 



LIFE IN PATAGONIA. 



FEOM 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 isolated 

 little colony has so often been involved during its 

 century of existence. One episode from its event- 

 ful 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 to be found in historical documents. 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 plundering 

 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 trouble- 

 some neighbour, until 1828, when they finally aban- 

 doned the contest. During this war the Imperial- 



