15S 



DWELLINGS — MARlllAGES. 



they migrate from place to place. Water does not lodge on the 

 hide covering, neither does wind penetrate ; and as east winds 

 are very rare in Patagonia, a temporary screen, such as a few 

 skins, suffices for protection against them. 



Two or three families sleep in one hut, unless it is the dwell- 

 ing of a cacique, or person who has many wives. Poor people 

 have but one wife. Those who are rich, and able to maintain 

 them, have several wives — three, four, five, or even more. 



In places where some of the tribe stay constantly, and which 

 are considered the head-quarters, or central rendezvous of a 

 tribe, there are larger huts, almost deserving the name of houses. 

 Some of these are for the cacique and his wives ; others are for 

 the wizards, who, in their three-fold capacity of priests, magi- 

 cians and doctors, have great influence over the superstitious 

 minds of their countrymen. These larger dwellings are made 

 with poles and skins, put together so as to form an oblong shed, 

 with a sloping roof, shaped like a small cottage. The substi- 

 tutes for walls are about five feet in height, and the roof is in 

 the middle about eight feet from the ground. Some of these 

 houses are four or five yards in width, and eight, ten, or twelve 

 in length. I have never seen one myself ; but those who gave 

 me other information, which I found true, said that there were 

 such houses in the interior, and described them minutely to me. 



At night, skins are spread upon the ground to sleep on ; two 

 or three rolled up, along the length of the back part of the 

 tent or hut, form a pillow for the whole party, on which each 

 family has its place, and the dogs lie at their feet. 



The children have a little square place to themselves, in one 

 corner. Infants in the cradle (a piece of hide with a thong 

 fast to its four corners, by which it is suspended from the roof 

 of the dwelling), are placed near their mother. 



Marriages are made by sale more frequently than by mutual 

 agreement. Instead of receiving a dowry with his wife, a man 

 pays a large price to her nearest relations. Sometimes girls are 

 betrothed while very young, and a part of the stipulated price 

 paid to the relations. Mutual inclination may sometimes 

 determine the choice; but payment must in every case be 



