86 THROUGH THE HEART OF PATAGONIA 



with all his strength, producing a series of the most horrible and 

 piercing shrieks. 



But strange as was this wild figure, his companion, victim or 

 quarry, was stranger and more striking still. For on an ancient 

 zaino sat perched a little brown maiden, whose aspect was forlorn 

 and pathetic to the last degree. She rode absolutely naked in the 

 teeth of the bitter cold, her breast, face and limbs blotched and 

 smeared with the rash of some eruptive disease, and her heavy- 

 lidded eyes, strained and open, staring ahead across the leagues of 

 empty snow-patched plain. 



Presently the man redoubled his howls, and bearing down upon 

 the zaino flogged and frightened it into yet greater speed. The 

 whole scene might have been mistaken for some ancient barbaric 

 and revolting form of punishment ; whereas, in real truth, it was 

 an anxious Indian father trying, according to his lights, to cure his 

 daughter of the measles ! 



It appeared that the girl had taken the disease in an extremely 

 acute form, and Indian belief and reasoning run something on these 

 lines : 



First fact — The child was possessed by a devil of great power 

 and ferocity, who set up such a trouble inside her body that it came 

 forth through her skin in blotches and spots. 



Second fact — A devil is known to dislike noise and cold. All 

 devils do. Hence the ride of the unlucky patient without a shred 

 to protect her from the stroncr west wind snow-fed with bitter cold, 

 and the almost incredible uproar made by the old gentleman upon 

 the dark brown horse. 



If one concedes the premises, it must be admitted there was 

 method m his madness. 



The above account was given me by Mr. Ernest Cattle, an 

 accurate observer, whose knowledge of the wild districts of 

 Patagonia is unique. 



Such is the Tehuelche Indian of Patagonia to-day, and facts 

 tend to show that he has in very few particulars departed from the 

 customs, manner of living and modes of thought which distinguished 

 his forefathers in the dawn of authentic Tehuelchian history. The 

 earliest mention of the natives of Patagonia occurs on the occasion 



