MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE TEHUELCHES 93 



trouble for the bridegroom, and conjugal obedience is only 

 enforced after struggles, of which the not infrequent result is that 

 the mark of the lady's teeth remains permanently upon her lord. 



The price of a wife varies, as must be expected in the natural 

 course of things. Strangely enough, a girl's value often depends upon 

 the number of her brethren, who must receive two horses apiece. 

 To buy a bride with means or rather animals of her own, an heiress 

 in fact, who comes of well-to-do people, as much as a hundred 

 mares have been given — or shall I say paid.* 



When desirous of carrying on matrimonial negotiations the 

 would-be bridegroom must always employ a go-between. To omit 

 this ceremonial method of approach would be an outrage on 

 etiquette. I conclude, though I do not know it for a fact as regards 

 Patagonia, that the go-between in that country gets his pickings 

 from both sides as his congener does elsewhere. 



The marriage ceremony is delightfully simple. After the pre- 

 liminary bargaining has been successfully brought to a close, the 

 happy bridegroom mounts his horse and rides to the toldo of his 

 intended and hands over his appointed gifts, receiving those of the 

 parents in return. He then carries back his bride amid the cheers 

 and cries of his friends, and in the evening there is a feast. 

 Musters remarks that on these occasions the dogs are not permitted 

 to touch the meat or offal of the animals killed, as it is considered 

 unlucky if they do so. 



The gifts which are exchanged between the parties form in a 

 more or less degree a marriage settlement, for in case of divorce 

 her parents' gifts accrue to the wife. Polygamy is allowed but not 

 much practised among the tribes. 



Few phenomena are to my mind more unaccountable than the 

 action of the white man who "goes fantee." 



" Went fantee, joined the people of the land, 

 Turned three parts Mussulman and one Hindoo, 

 And lived among the Gauri villages, 

 Who gave him shelter and a wife or twain." 



* While prosecuting the inquiries which led to the compilation of this account of 

 the Tehuelches it was thought that the author desired to take a bride from the toldo%. 

 He was informed that seven mares would purchase a young and efficient helpmate. 



