146 CLOTHING ARMOUR. 



Maria,* once persuaded some of her companions to go with her 

 to the Falkland islands, in a vessel commanded by Mr. Matthew 

 Brisbane. They went, staid there some weeks, and returned in 

 the same vessel, highly delighted by all the novelties, excepting 

 sea-sickness. The chief wizard of the tribe was one of the 

 party. Maria was then a person of much consequence, being 

 almost their only interpreter, and the wife of a principal person. 

 Her own history must be curious : she was born at Asuncion, 

 in Paraguay ; and has a son who is a cacique. 



The mantles are curiously painted, usually on one side only, 

 but some have had the hair rubbed off and are painted on 

 both sides. They are very neatly sewed together with thread 

 made out of the split sinews of ostriches, which is the strongest 

 and most durable material they can procure. Making mantles 

 is one of the occupations of the women. The paint used is 

 found on the hills : it is an earthy substance, of various colours. 

 Moistened with water, and made into the shape of crayons, 

 pieces of this substance are dried in the sun ; and when used, 

 one end of the crayon is dipped in water and rubbed on the 

 part to be coloured. These mantles are tied about the neck, 

 and usually round the middle, by sinew cords. Often the upper 

 part is dropped, and the body left quite exposed above the 

 waist, and while in active exercise on horseback, this is usually 

 the case, if the mantle is not then entirely discarded. This 

 substantial substitute for clothing is made with skins of the 

 animals of their country ; and among those of guanaco, puma, 

 fox, skunk (a kind of weasel or polecat), cavy, dog, otter, seal, 

 and colt, the most esteemed are the small grey fox skins. 

 A kind of ' maro' is sometimes worn by the men ; and their 

 boots, I have already said, are made out of the hock part of 

 the skins of mares' and colts'* legs. After being cleaned from 

 fat, or membranous substances, dried, and then made pliable 

 with grease, these ready-shaped boots require neither sewing 

 nor soles. Wooden substitutes for spurs are worn, if iron can- 

 not be procured. 



For warlike purposes the men clothe themselves in three of 

 * Frequently mentioned by Captain King in vol. i* 



