18 



lATAGONIAN INDIANS. 



Jan. 18^7. 



much persuasion, assented. At first they objected to their 

 companions embarking with us, unless we left hostages for their 

 safety ; but as this was refused, they did not press the point, 

 and the three young men embarked. They went on board 

 singing ; in high glee. 



While the ship was getting under w^ay, I went ashore to a 

 larger number of Indians who were waiting on the beach. 

 When my boat landed they were mounted, and collected in one 

 place. I was surprised to hear the woman accost me in Spa- 

 nish, of which, however, she knew but a few words. Having 

 presented medals to each of the party, they dismounted (except- 

 ing the elders), and in a few minutes became quite familiar. 

 By this time Captain Stokes had landed, with several of his 

 officers, who increased our party to nearly double the number 

 of theirs : notwithstanding which they evinced neither fear nor 

 uneasiness. The woman, whose name was Maria, wished to be 

 very communicative ; she told me that the man was her hus- 

 band, and that she had five children. One of the young men, 

 whom we afterwards found to be a son of Maria, who was a 

 principal person of the tribe, was mounted upon a very fine 

 horse, well groomed, and equipped with a bridle and saddle that 

 would have done credit to a respectable horseman of Buenos 

 Ayres or Monte Video. The young man wore heavy brass 

 spurs, like those of the Guachos of Buenos Ayres. The juvenile 

 and feminine appearance of this youth made us think he was 

 Maria's daughter, nor was it until a subsequent visit that our 

 mistake was discovered. The absence of whiskers and beard 

 gives all the younger men a very effeminate look, and many can- 

 not be distinguished, in appearance, from the women, but by 

 the mode in which they wrap their mantles around them, and by 

 their hair, which is turned up and confined by a fillet of 

 worsted yarn. The women cross their mantle over the breast like 

 a shawl, and fasten it together with two iron pins or skewers, 

 round which are twisted strings of beads and other ornaments. 

 They also wear their hair divided, and gathered into long 

 ^tresses or tails, which hang one before each ear ; and those who 

 have short hair, wear false tails made of horse-hair. Under 



