MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE TEHUELCHES loi 



coffin-like shape. One Indian, however, possessed a silver pipe, 

 the stem of which had begun life as a bombilla, or silver tube for 

 drinking mat'e through. Musters mentions frequently seeing the 

 men become insensible after smoking, which would lead to the 

 supposition that they use some drug corresponding in its effects to 

 opium. I never observed a single instance of this sort, although I 

 smoked the camp-fire pipe on many occasions with Tehuelches. 

 In fact, of those I met, two out of three were not smokers 

 at all. 



The language of these people is very guttural, and one word 

 is used to signify a number of different things, which proves its 

 elementary and simple character. In most of their camps Spanish 

 is understood more or less, and with even a slight knowledge of this 

 tongue one can get on very well. 



Practically the Patagonian is governed by no tribal laws. He 

 does not need their restraint, for, save when drunk, he seldom 

 commits crimes of greater or less magnitude. In politics he is 

 democratic apparently, for though it is true that a cacique is at the 

 head of each camp, his authority seems limited to ordering the plan 

 of the hunt. If any individual objects he can leave the community, 

 an alternative extremely distasteful to so gregarious a people. 

 Quarrels and fights are of very rare occurrence, except when there is 

 drink in the tents. The natural peacefulness of the Indian is cer- 

 tainly commendable, for his muscular development is enormous. He 

 can tear the skin from a guanaco after merely raising enough with 

 his knife to give him a hand-grip. 



Once it was a free and a happy life that they lived, with fortunes 

 ruled by the changing of the seasons. In those days, five-and- 

 twenty years ago, they were scattered throughout the country, 

 moving along the Indian trail. Now, in the whole of my long 

 travel through Patagonia, I came upon only three encampments 

 of them, and I have reason to believe I visited nearly every one 

 that exists at the present day. It is probable that I may be their 

 last chronicler ; they will be brushed off the face of the earth by 

 the sweeping besom that deals so hardly with aboriginal races, and 

 is known as "civilisation." 



The cause of their disappearance is not far to seek. You may 



