May 1827. MARIA’S VISIT AND CONDUCT. 89 
seating herself at table, asked for tea and bread, and made a 
hearty meal. I took the precaution of having all the knives, 
and articles that I thought likely to be stolen, removed from 
the table; but neither then, nor at any time, did I detect 
Maria in trying to steal, although her companions never lost 
an opportunity of pilfering. 
After breakfast the Indians were landed, and as many of 
the officers as could be spared went on shore, and passed the 
whole day with the tribe, during which a very active trade was 
carried on. There were about one hundred and twenty Indians 
collected together, with horses and dogs. It is probable that, 
with the exception of five or six individuals left to take care 
of the encampment, and such as were absent on hunting excur- 
~sions, the whole of the tribe was mustered on the beach, each 
family in a separate knot, with all their riches displayed to the 
best advantage for sale. 
T accompanied Maria to the shore. On landing, she con- 
ducted me to the place where her family were seated round 
their property. They consisted of Manucl, her husband, and 
three children, the eldest being known by the appellation of 
Capitan Chico, or “little chief.” A skin being spread out for 
me to sit on, the family and the greater part of the tribe col- 
lected around. Maria then presented me with several mantles 
and skins, for which I gave in return a sword, remnants of 
red baize, knives, scissors, looking-glasses, and beads: of the 
latter I afterwards distributed bunches to all the children, a 
present which caused evident satisfaction to the mothers, many 
of whom also obtained a share. ‘The receivers were selected 
by Maria, who directed me to the youngest children first, then 
to the elder ones, and lastly to the girls and women. It was 
curious and amusing, to witness the order with which this 
scene was conducted, and the remarkable patience of the chil- 
dren, who, with the greatest anxiety to possess their trinkets, 
neither opened their lips, nor held out a hand, until she pointed 
to them in succession. 
Having told Maria that I had more things to dispose of for 
guanaco meat she dismissed the tribe from around me, and, 
VOL. I. 
