CHAPTER VII. 



SOUTHERN ABORIGINES OF SOUTH AMERICA. 



Of the tribes which scantily people Patagonia and Tierra 

 del Fuego, far less is yet known than might generally be 

 expected. Although frequently seen by white men, and often 

 holding intercourse with them, probably no person even mode- 

 rately educated, excepting Falkner, has staid among them 

 long enough to become acquainted with, and describe their 

 peculiarities. 



His description of the aboriginal natives who, in his time 

 (1740-80), roamed over the fertile ' Pampas'* of Buenos Ayres, 

 or the sterile plains of Patagonia ; of the western mountaineers ; 

 and of those unconquerable tribes which repulsed the Peruvian 

 Yncas, opposed Spanish conquerors, and are still independent, 

 is so decidedly corroborated by Molina, by many Spanish 

 authors, and by modern testimony, that in attempting to de- 

 scribe the Patagonians, I shall try to unite his account (bear- 

 ing in mind the time elapsed, and consequent changes) to the 

 information which has been obtained during late years. 



Of the Fuegians, a few notices are to be found in narratives 

 of various voyagers ; but the imperfect description here given 

 is principally derived from the natives who went to England in 

 the Beagle ; and from Mr. Low, who has seen more of them 

 in their own country than any other person. 



About the middle of the last century, the aboriginal inhabi- 

 tants of that portion of South America which lies between the 

 parallels of thirty and forty, formed two principal divisions, 

 more or less separated by the only real barrier existing in that 

 extent of country, the Cordillera of the Andes. Those who 

 lived eastward of the Andes were called ^ Puel-che,** signifying 



VOL. II, K 



