1829. DRESS HABITS MORALS. 277 



They have given up the use of the poncho, and in this parti- 

 cular, they say they are before the gentry at Concepciou, who 

 wear it on all occasions : and probably are quite right, for, with 

 respect to comfort, there is much to admire in the poncho, as, 

 of all cloaks, it is the most generally convenient, and the best 

 adapted for protecting the person, especially on horseback, 

 where it is indispensable : its use, however, offers the wearer 

 such an opportunity to neglect the other part of his dress, 

 which it effectually conceals, that sometimes, beneath the pon- 

 cho, the body is very ill-clothed. 



The dress of men in the lower orders, consists of a pair of 

 trowsers, and a shirt, over which is thrown the all-concealing 

 poncho. The women are as slightly clad ; but instead of a pon- 

 cho, they wear a rebozo, or shawl, which, however, is very often 

 dispensed with, and their persons are left too much exposed. 



These lower classes, or Indians, as they, with much reason, 

 are termed, are scarcely superior to the uncivilized savages 

 of the southern coasts; and live principally upon shell-fish, with 

 what little they are enabled to procure besides by the sale of 

 a few pigs, or poultry, which they rear on the scanty store of 

 potatoes and wheat, that remains after their new crop comes to 

 maturity. One roof shelters a whole family. Father and mother, 

 sons and daughters^ dogs and pigs, all live and sleep in their 

 only room, in the middle of which, a fire is made ; whence the 

 smoke escapes by numerous apertures in the roof and sides of 

 the dwelling. 



As to their morals, within the precincts of their habitations, 

 1 have reason to believe they have not much to boast of, 

 although they are described, by Agueros and other writers, as 

 most innocent, and well -conducted. Agueros speaks highly of 

 their character ; and cites Padre Ovalle, who, writing upon 

 Chiloe, between the years 1629 and 1636, says : " The natives 

 of these islands are the most docile and noble (dociles y nobles) 

 of all Chile, and are the least given to drunkenness, and other 

 vices; therefore they are best disposed to be edified by the 

 light of the Gospel.'' 



Since the province became subject to the Chilian Republic, 



