Ancaie*.— Chilenew. 

 The Ouachoa. 



u 



girdle. On the head worn a red conicnl cap 

 surmounted by a tassel. 



Their ruling hoots or leggings arc made of the 

 hide from the leg nf a horse. This is stripped off 

 and put on the leg while yet green, where it is 

 suffered to dry, and remain until worn out. They 

 tit very closely to the foot, like n stocking. The 

 two largest toes of each foot were uncovered, for 

 the convenience of puttiug them into the stirrup, 

 which is only large enough to admit them. A long 

 knife in the girdle completes the dress. 



The Rio Negro is navigable for boats to the 

 village of Chichula, tw<» hundred miles from its* 



Hi. null. 



The distance across the country to Buenos Ayres 

 is but five hundred miles, yet it requires fifteen 

 days t» communicate with it; the governor had re- 

 ceived DO advices or informal ion for the last two 

 months from that place. The route is very un- 

 certain, owing to the hordes of hostile Indians. 



Grain, fruit, and vegetables thrive well, ami with 

 proper industry might be produced in abundance. 



The climate is delightful, and cold weather is 

 seldom felt, although ice has occasionally been seen 

 a quarter of an inch in thickness. 



HullockH and horses are the principal articles of 

 Trade; indeed they constitute I lit' legal tender of 

 the country. The former art? worth from five to 

 ten dollars, according to age; wild horses, two or 

 three dollars, and if broken to the saddle, ten or i 

 fifteen. 



The tariff of duties is the same as at Buenos 

 Ayres. hui ihe late reduction of ihirty-lhree per 

 cent, during the blockade, did not extend to this ' 

 [dace. 



The Indians that are accustomed to visit this 

 place (Carmen) for the purpose of war or trade are 

 of four different tribes; viz., 1'ampaH, Amuses, Te- 

 huiliehcs nr Tehenlches, and Chilenos. The two 

 former occupy the territory to the north of the Rio 

 Negro as far as the Rio Colorado. The Tehutiiches 

 are from the mountains to the bouth, and the Chile- 

 nos from the south-west. 



During the infancy of the settlement, and until 

 of late years, these Indians were extremely trouble- 

 some, making descents upon ihe place, and ravag- 

 ing the outpuBts, waylaying all who were not on I 

 their guard, killing them, and retreating rapidly on 

 their wild steeds, with their booty, to the pampas 

 and mountains. The Spaniards frequently reta- 

 liated, and by the superiority of their arms and 

 discipline, inflicted summary punishment on them. 

 The last attack of the Indians was made in 1 832, 

 when they met with such un overwhelming defeat, 

 that they have not ventured to make another; yet 

 the garrison is always kept in anxiety for fear of 

 attacks. 



The weapons usual in their warfare arc a long 

 lance and the balloe, such as is used in taking the 

 ostrich and throwing cattle, winch they use with 

 ureal dexterity. This consists of a thong of hide, 

 four feet in length, with a leaden ball at each end, 

 which the horseman grasps in lle> middle, and 

 gives the halls a rotary motion by whirling them 

 above his head, then dashing on to the attack, be 

 throws it when within range with unerring aim, 

 and seldom fails to disable his enemy. The Indians 

 who arc most feared are the Chilenos. The Tchui- 

 lichee, notwithstanding their immense size, are 

 considered little better than cowards. 



All the information gained here tended lo eon- 

 firm the general impression that the Tehnilichcs 

 or Patagonians are above the ordinary height of 

 men, generally above six feet; and the minister 

 asserted that he had often seen them above seven 

 English feet. We had not any personal VfftQ* 

 tunity to verify this statement, the Indian* being 

 only in the habit of visiting this post once a 

 year, to obtain supplies, viz., in the month of 

 March, at which time a vessel usually visits the 

 place. 



The few Indiana who inhabit the huts or toldos 

 on the opposite side of the river are converted, and 

 arc termed Indios Mnnsoa; they are a mixture of 

 all the tribes, and bo much changed in habits oud 

 dress from thoir former condition and mode of life, 

 that an accurate idea could not he formed of their 

 natural character. They wore none of them above 

 the middle height; their limbs were usually full and 

 well formed; their complexion a brownish copper, 

 with coarse straight black hair, growing very low 

 on the forehead; this 5s suffered to grow long, and 

 banes down on both sides of the face, adding much 

 to the wildness of their appearance. Their fore- 

 heads are low and narrow towards the top, their 

 eye* small, black, and deep set. Some were ob- 

 served with their eyes set Chinese-like. The re- 

 semblance was somewhat increased by tho width of 

 the face, which was a particular characteristic. 

 The nose is usually a little flattened at the root, 

 and wide at the uostrils, the lips full, and the chin 

 not prominent. The expressions of their counte- 

 nance betoken neither intellect le-r vivacity. The 

 men were generally decked out in tawdry finery, 

 partly after the Spanish fashion; the women had 

 only "the chilipn to cover their nakedness. 



Of the Ancases very little appears to be known ; 

 they live towsirds the 'north, speak a pcculinr lan- 

 guage, and are inferior to the rest in stature. 



The Chilenos arc derived from the western side 

 nf the continent, and are predatory bands of ihe 

 groat Araueouian nation. 



The Peulrbes, including the Pampas and Tehni- 

 lichcs, Fullmer, in his account of this country, 

 describes as inhabiting the portion south of ihe 

 Rio de la Plata, and to the east of the Cordilleras; 

 they arc scattered over the vast plains of the inte- 

 rior. Those to the north of the Rio Colorado are 

 penerally known under the name of tho Pampas In- 

 dians; they call themselves Chechehets. Those to 

 the south of that river are termed Tehuiliehes; they 

 inhabit the table-land between the Cordilleras and 

 the desert plains of the coast. 



These people are represented as of gigantic sta- 

 ture, and it is said by the residents, that those from 

 the south are generally taller than those from any 

 other part; and Indians are said to have been met 

 with who are distinguished for their gigantic height 

 and well-formed limbs; but this rests on vague au- 

 thority. 



The Guachos and Indians are of course gond 

 horsemen, being trained to it from their infancy. 

 Indeed they may he said to live on horseback, and 

 it is very seldom that they are seen to walk any 

 distance, however short. 



Thoir dress, although uncouth and ill-arranged, 

 is comfortable, and picturesque when they arc on 

 horseback, particularly when at full s[H-ed in search 

 of a bullock to lasso. The ease and nonchalance 

 wiili which a Cuacho mounts his steed, arranges 



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