to the Strait of Magellan. 



89 



that the common size was from ^\ to 1 fe£i,^ But even this 

 height is not so strikini^ as their corpulence, or rather bulkiness, 

 some of them measuring 4 feet 4 inches round the breast; but 

 their feet and hands are not in due proportion to their other 

 parts. They all give evident signs of strength of" body ; they 

 are full of flesh, but cannot properly be called fat. The size 

 and tension of their muscles evinces their strength ; and their 

 figure, on the whole, is not disa^^reeable, although the head is 

 large, even in proportion to the body : the face broad and 

 flattish, the ^y^^ lively, and the teeth extremely white, but too 

 long. Their complexion, like that of other Americans, is 

 cetrino (pale-yellow), or rather verging on a copper-colour. 

 They wear thin black straight hair, tied on the top of the 

 head with a piece of thoDg, or ribbon, brought round their 

 forehead, having the head entirely uncovered. We observed 

 some with beards, but which were neither thick nor long. 



Their dress adds much to the effect of their size, being 

 composed of a kind of cloak made of the skins of lamas or 

 zorillos, ari'anged with some skill, with stripes of different co- 

 lours in the inside. They wear it fa5>tened round the waist^ so 

 that it covers them below the calf of the leg, letting that 

 part commonly hang down which is intended for covering 

 the shoulders ; and when the cold, or otlier cause, induces them 

 to put it over them, they hold the upper part of it with the hand^ 

 and so cover themselves entirely with this cloak. 



Some also, besides this skin-cloak or a)antle, weax ponckomsy 

 and breeches or drawers, of the same shape and sort with those 

 worn by the Creoles of Chili and Buenos Ayrea. The poncho is 

 a piece of strong cloth striped with various colours, about thre^i 

 yards long and two broad, having an opening in the middle, 

 made for the purpose of passing it over the head : a piece of 

 dress extremely proper for riding on horseback, as it covers aad 

 defends the arms, at the same time leaving them in perfect 

 liberty for any exertion. Some had ponchos made of the stuffs 

 manufactured by our settlers in Buenos Ayres. The breeclies, 

 or drawers, are very like those worn iu Europe but their boots 

 are very different, being formed of the skin of the legs of the 



* The viira, or yard, of Buj-gos, the standard of Spain, pontains 3S*061S2 inches 

 or two feet nine inches and oiie-sixteenth, English; the taJlest Fatagoiiian, there^ 

 fore, did not exceed six feet six inches and o^ie-third, English; and those'of tke 

 common size were from five feet eleven inches and two-thirds to six feet five inches 

 and one-seventh, English. It is, however, to be remembered, that Spaniards -dre 

 not in general tall men, and that a seaman is s£ldom among tiie tallest of his couu. 

 trymen : to them, tlierefore, the Patagonians might appear giants. — It may be af^ 

 well to mention lieie, in explanation, (vide p. it,) that six feet eleven inches and 



a half, Spanisii, is abwit six feet four inches and a qaarter, English. See the TuHq 



of Lineal Measures. 



Voyages and Travels, iVt?. 5, FoL II, n 



