CHASE — WEALTH HUTS. 



151 



since not one in a hundred escapes by his own exertions when 

 once entangled ; but another and another become the victims 

 of a good hunter, before the collection escapes out of his reach. 

 All their sets of balls being employed, and the game dispersed, 

 thev beffin to kill and divide. Each animal is knocked on the 

 head with a ball, skinned, and cut into pieces, where it fell, 

 and the pieces are then carried on horseback to their huts. 



After reaching their settlement, the produce of the chase is 

 brought together, and divided among the different families, in 

 proportion to their respective numbers. If one family has 

 eaten its share sooner than others, some one of that hungry 

 house goes to any party which has meat left, and cuts off what 

 is wanted, without a question. 



A number of large dogs assist in the hunt : whether they 

 scent the game I know not, but probably they run by eye, as 

 so many animals are a-foot at once. Each regular hunter has 

 a spare horse at hand ; the best horses being carefully reserved 

 for war and the chase. Upon others they travel, place the 

 women and children, and their property. 



The method of hunting -abovementioned is that employed 

 on set occasions; but if only a few men are together, they 

 surprise and chase, as they can. Sometimes they ride together, 

 and chase whatever they see, whether ostrich, skunk, guanaco, 

 fox, or puma. 



The wealth of these Indians consists chiefly in horses and 

 dogs, the richer individuals having forty or fifty horses, and a 

 large number of dogs ; the poorer, only one or two horses, and 

 but one dog. 



The tents or huts called by themselves ' cow,' and by the 

 Spaniards and their descendants, toldos (tolderia is the place 

 of toldos, or Indian village, in Spanish), have already been 

 partly described. Made of skins, sewed together and supported 

 by poles, a tilt-like construction, open towards the east, is their 

 hastily-formed dwelling. The top slopes towards the west 

 side, which is not above two feet in height. The front is about 

 six or seven feet high ; and the inside space about twelve 

 feet by nine. Both poles and skins are carried with them when 



