100 RIO NEGRO. 



governor had received no advices or information for the last two 

 months from that place. The route is very uncertain, owing to the 

 hordes of hostile Indians. 



Grain, fruit, and vegetables thrive well, and with proper industry 

 might be produced in abundance. 



The climate is delightful, and cold weather is seldom felt, although 

 ice has occasionally been seen a quarter of an inch in thickness. 



Bullocks and horses are the principal articles of trade ; indeed they 

 constitute the legal tender of the country. The former are worth 

 from five to ten dollars, according to age ; wild horses, two or three 

 dollars, and if broken to the saddle, ten or fifteen. 



The tariff of duties is the same as at Buenos Ayres, but the late 

 reduction of thirty-three per cent, during the blockade did not extend 

 to this place. 



The Indians that are accustomed to visit this place (Carmen) for 

 the purpose of war or trade are of four different tribes, viz., Pampas, 

 Ancases, Tehuiliches or Teheulehes, and Chilenos. The two former 

 occupy the territory to the north of the Rio Negro as far as the Rio 

 Colorado. The Tehuiliches are from the mountains to the south, and 

 the Chilenos from the southwest. 



During the infancy of the settlement, and until of late years, these 

 Indians were extremely troublesome, making descents upon the place, 

 and ravaging the outposts, waylaying all who were not on their 

 guard, killing them, and retreating rapidly on their wild steeds, with 

 their booty, to the pampas and mountains. The Spaniards frequently 

 retaliated, and by the superiority of their arms and discipline, inflicted 

 summary punishment on them. The last attack of the Indians was 

 made in 1832, when they met with such an overwhelming defeat, that 

 they have not ventured to make another ; yet the garrison is always 

 kept in anxiety for fear of attacks. 



The weapons usual in their warfare are a long lance and the 

 ballos, such as is used in taking the ostrich and throwing cattle, which 

 they use with great dexterity. This consists of a thong of hide, four 

 feet in length, with a leaden ball at each end, which the horseman 

 grasps in the middle, and gives the balls a rotary motion by whirling 

 them above his head, then dashing on to the attack, he throws it when 

 within range with unerring aim, and seldom fails to disable his 

 enemy. The Indians who are most feared are the Chilenos. The 

 Tehuiliches, notwithstanding their immense size, are considered little 

 better than cowards. 



All the information gained here tended to confirm the general 

 impression that the Tehuiliches or Patagonians are above the ordinary 



