88 THROUGH THE HEART OF PATAGONIA 



Their way of life tends to muscular excellence, but even taking 

 that into consideration the development of the arms, chest, and, in 

 fact, the whole body above the loins Is extraordinary. But the 

 lower limbs are sometimes disappointing, being, in fact, the lower 

 limbs of a race of riders.* 



The Tehuelche Indians of Patagonia are essentially nomads, 

 living chiefly upon the proceeds of their hunting, and, in a less 

 degree, maintaining themselves upon sale or barter connected 

 with their limited holding of domestic animals. Agriculture or 

 tillage is absolutely unknown among them. The hunting-ground 

 is farm enough for them, and they pitch their tents of skin where 

 they will, or change their quarters at the dictates of necessity or 

 whim. They always break camp if a death occurs among the 

 tribe, for the spot is then considered accursed. And they are, of 

 course, also largely influenced in their movements by the wander- 

 ings of the guanaco herds, which form their principal quarry. 



There are five existing camps of Indians to be found in 

 Patagonia. I visited two of them and a third small outlying 

 group. Their numbers have sadly decreased since the days of the 

 opening 'seventies, when George Chaworth Musters made his 

 abode in the tribal toldos and followed with them in their 

 wanderings. He speaks of two tribes of Tehuelches, the northern 

 and the southern, only distinguishable by a slight difference of 

 dialect, and who met and intermarried, although they did not 

 object to espousing opposite sides in a quarrel. Other tribes 

 whom he mentions did not inhabit the part of the country of which 

 I am writing. 



The Tehuelches proper appear to have been fairly prosperous 

 and numerous in his day, but even then he says, speaking of them : 

 " Supplies of rum procured in trade at the settlements . . . 

 and disease, small-pox especially, are rapidly diminishing their 

 numbers." Things have undoubtedly gone from bad to worse in 

 this unhappy direction, and I am inclined to think that the number 

 of Tehuelche Indians surviving at this period can be little over a 

 few hundreds in number. Rum is undoubtedly their chief foe. 



* There is, however, a great variation in the development of the lower limbs in 

 different individuals. 



