286 PIRAGUA’S SAIL—PLOUGH. 1829. 
the course and all their movements, provides two ponchos, all 
which are sewn together to form their sail, which is hoisted by 
‘Jazos, or thongs of bullock’s hide. 
These sails are generally in a wretched state, the name San- 
tisima is applied to them all by the crews, with the hope of 
securing the protection of their patron saint. The anchor is of 
wood, formed of four crooked pieces, in the shape of a grapnel 
with four flukes, at the bottom, or crown of which a large stone 
is fastened, to increase its weight. ‘lhe crews are exceedingly 
timid, and instead of making exertions to extricate their vessel 
from any impending danger, they throw themselves on their 
knees, beating their breasts and calling loudly upon their saint, 
for ‘ misericordia.’ 
I was given to understand that very few of them can swim; 
which seems extraordinary, since they are born and bred in 
the immediate vicinity of the sea, and depend chiefly upon its 
productions for subsistence. The fact speaks strongly for the 
indolence of their character, even although the rigour of the 
climate forms a bar to bathing as a mere amusement. Several 
piraguas were lost while we were at Childe, and, as may be 
inferred, their crews were all drowned. 
With regard to the cultivation of land, they are very far 
behind, and, comparing the present state with the description 
of Byron (1740), and of Agiieros (1791), very little improve- 
ment seems to have been made. The ground is prepared by 
make-shift ploughs, of a very rude construction. ‘lwo poles of 
hard wood (luma), about three yards long and proportionably 
large, trimmed to a sharp point at one end and rounded at the 
other, are held by the middle, one in each hand, and pointed 
very obliquely into the ground; in this direction they are 
forced forward, by pressing against the blunt end with the 
abdomen, which is defended by a sheepskin, suspended in the 
form of an apron. After these have penetrated twelve or four- 
teen inches into the soil, a second person, generally a woman or 
a boy, places a stout stick under the poles, or ‘lumas,’ as they 
are called, close to the earth, to form a solid support for them. 
