RIO NEGRO. 101 



height of men, generally above six feet ; and the minister asserted that 

 he had often seen them above seven English feet. We had not any 

 personal opportunity to verify this statement, the Indians being only in 

 the habit of visiting this post once a year, to obtain supplies, viz., in 

 the month of March, at which time a vessel usually visits the place. 



The few Indians who inhabit the huts or toldos on the opposite side 

 of the river, are converted, and are termed Indios Mansos ; they are 

 a mixture of all the tribes, and so much changed in habits and dress 

 from their former condition and mode of life, that an accurate idea 

 could not be formed of their natural character. They were none of 

 them above the middle height ; their limbs were usually full and well 

 formed ; their complexion a brownish copper, with coarse straight 

 black hair, growing very low on the forehead : this is suffered to grow 

 long, and hangs down on both sides of the face, adding much to the 

 wildness of their appearance. Their foreheads are low and narrow 

 towards the top, their eyes small, black, and deep set. Some were 

 observed with their eyes set Chinese-like. The resemblance was 

 somewhat increased by the width of the face, which was a particular 

 characteristic. The nose is usually a little flattened at the root, and 

 wide at the nostrils, the lips full, and the chin not prominent. The 

 expressions of their countenance betoken neither intellect nor vivacity. 

 The men were generally decked out in tawdry finery, partly after the 

 Spanish fashion; the women had only the chilipa to cover their 

 nakedness. 



Of the Ancases very little appears to be known ; they live towards: 

 the north, speak a peculiar language, and are inferior to the rest irt 

 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. 

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