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1829. DRESS—HABITS—MORALS. Qi 
They have given up the use of the poncho, and in this parti- 
cular, they say they are before the gentry at Concepcion, who 
wear it on all occasions : and probably are quite right, for, with 
respect to comfort, there is much to admire in the poncho, as, 
of all cloaks, it is the most generally convenient, and the best 
adapted for protecting the person, especially on horseback, 
where it is indispensable: its use, however, offers the wearer 
such an opportunity to neglect the other part of his dress, 
which it effectually conceals, that sometimes, beneath the pon- 
cho, the body is very ill-clothed. 
The dress of men in the lower orders, consists of a pair of 
trowsers, and a shirt, over which is thrown the all-concealing 
poncho. The women are as slightly clad; but instead of a pon- 
cho, they wear a rebozo, or shawl, which, however, is very often 
dispensed with, and their persons are left-too much exposed. 
These lower classes, or Indians, as they, with much reason, 
are termed, are scarcely superior to the uncivilized savages 
of the southern coasts; and live principally upon shell-fish, with 
what little they are enabled to procure besides by the sale of 
a few pigs, or poultry, which they rear on the scanty store of 
potatoes and wheat, that remains after their new crop comes to 
maturity. One roof shelters a whole family. Father and mother, 
sons and daughters, dogs and pigs, all live and sleep in their 
only room, in the middle of which, a fire is made ; whence the 
smoke escapes by numerous apertures in the roof and sides of 
the dwelling. 
As to their morals, within the precincts of their habitations, 
I have reason to believe they have not much to boast of, 
although they are described, by Agiieros and other writers, as 
most innocent, and well-conducted. Agiieros speaks highly of 
their character ; and cites Padre Ovalle, who, writing upon 
Childe, between the years 1629 and 1636, says: “ The natives 
of these islands are the most docile and noble (dociles y nobles) 
of all Chile, and are the least given to drunkenness, and other 
vices; therefore they are best disposed to be edified by the 
light of the Gospel.” 
Since the province became subject to the Chilian Republic, 
