104 R I O N E G R O. 
Of the Ancases very little appears to be known ; they live towards 
the north, speak a peculiar language, and are inferior to the rest in 
stature. 
The Chilenos are derived from the western side of the continent, 
and are predatory bands of the great Araucanian nation. 
The Peulches, including the Pampas and Tehuiliches, Falkner, 
in his account of this country, describes as inhabiting the portion 
south of the Rio de la Plata, and to the east of the Cordilleras ; they 
are scattered over the vast plains of the interior. Those to the north of 
the Rio Colorado are generally known under the name of the Pampas 
Indians ; they call themselves Chechehets. Those to the south of 
that river are termed Tehuiliches ; they inhabit the table land between 
the Cordilleras, and the desert plains of the coast. 
These people are represented as of gigantic stature, and it is said 
by the residents, that those from the south are generally taller than 
those from any other part, and Indians are said to have been met 
with who are distinguished for their gigantic height and well-formed 
limbs, but this rests on vague authority. 
Our philologist related an anecdote of a young Indian who had 
learned the Spanish tongue, whom he had been questioning relative 
to his language, in order to obtain a certain class of phrases. After 
having written down a word, in repeating it, he connected it with 
some adjunct, as my father, his house, this knife. The Indian mis- 
took his meaning, and immediately took fire at the supposed insult, 
thinking that the correctness of what he had said was doubted, and 
that the object was to entrap him in a falsehood. It was with some 
difficulty that he was pacified. 
The Guachos and Indians are of course good horsemen, being- 
trained to it from their infancy. Indeed they may be said to live 
on horseback, and it is very seldom that they are seen to walk any 
distance however short. 
Their dress, although uncouth and ill-arranged, is comfortable, and 
picturesque when they are on horseback, particularly when at full 
speed in search of a bullock to lasso. The ease and nonchalance 
with which a Guacho mounts his steed, arranges himself in the 
saddle, quietly trotting off, lasso in hand, to select his victim, and 
detach it from the herd; then the eager chase, the furious speed of 
the horse, the flying dress of the Guacho, with upraised arm whirling 
his lasso, the terror of the animal, the throw of the lasso, and instan- 
taneous overthrow of the bullock, all the work of an instant, excited 
