May Maria's visit and conduct. S9 



seating herself at table, asked for tea and bread, and made a 

 hearty meal. I took the precaution of having all the knives, 

 and articles that I thought likely to be stolen, removed from 

 the table ; but neither then, nor at any time, did I detect 

 Maria in trying to steal, although her companions never lost 

 an opportunity of pilfering. 



After breakfast the Indians were landed, and as many of 

 the officers as could be spared went on shore, and passed the 

 whole day with the tribe, during which a very active trade was 

 carried on. There were about one hundred and twenty Indians 

 collected together, with horses and dogs. It is probable that, 

 with the exception of five or six individuals left to take care 

 of the encampment, and such as were absent on hunting excur- 

 sions, the whole of the tribe was mustered on the beach, each 

 family in a separate knot^ with all their riches displayed to the 

 best advantage for sale. 



I accompanied Maria to the shore. On landing, she con- 

 ducted me to the place where her family were seated round 

 their property. They consisted of Manuel, her husband, and 

 three children, the eldest being known by the appellation of 

 Capitan Chico, or " little chief. A skin being spread out for 

 me to sit on, the family and the greater part of the tribe col- 

 lected around. Maria then presented me with several mantles 

 and skins, for which I gave in return a sword, remnants of 

 red baize, knives, scissors, looking-glasses, and beads : of the 

 latter I afterwards distributed bunches to all the children, a 

 present which caused evident satisfaction to the mothers, many 

 of whom also obtained a share. The receivers were selected 

 by Maria, who directed me to the youngest children first, then 

 to the elder ones, and lastly to the girls and women. It was 

 curious and amusing, to witness the order with which this 

 scene v/as conducted, and the remarkable patience of the chil- 

 dren, who, with the greatest anxiety to possess their trinkets, 

 neither opened their lips, nor held out a hand, until she pointed 

 to them in succession. 



Having told Maria that I had more things to dispose of for 

 guanaco meat she dismissed the tribe from around me, and, 



VOL. I. 



