THE PAMPAS INDIANS. 



1^3 



They will not sell their skins for money, which 

 they declare is of no use, but exchange them for 

 knives, spurs, mate, sugar, &c. They refuse to 

 buy by weight, which they do not understand ; so 

 they mark out upon a skin how much is to be 

 covered with sugar, or anything of the sort which 

 they desire to receive in barter for their property. 

 After their business is concluded, they generally 

 devote another day to Bacchus, and when they 

 have got nearly sober, they mount their horses, and 

 with a loose rein, and with their new spurs, they 

 stagger and gallop away to their wild plains. 



Without describing any more of their customs, 

 which I repeat only from hearsay, I must only 

 again lament that the history of these people is not 

 better known ; for, from many facts which I heard 

 concerning them, I really believe that they, as well 

 as the Araucana Indians, possess many brave and 

 estimable qualities. It is singular, however, to 

 think how mutually they and the inhabitants of the 

 old world are unacquainted with each other. These 

 untamed soldiers know nothing of the governments, 

 customs, habits, wants, luxuries, virtues, or follies, 



