434 



THE POLAR WORLD. 



courage, and his liberality that he is worthy to succeed him ; and if he is found 

 wanting, the Indian most distinguished by his moral and intellectual quali- 

 ties is elected in his place. 



The Patagonians are very awkward fishermen ; they merely catch what 

 chance throws into their hands, and are unacquainted with nets or any other 

 piscatorial artifice. In this respect they are totally different from the Fuegians, 

 who derive their chief subsistence from the sea. They have ever been a nation 

 of hunters, and before the introduction of the horse, they pursued their game 

 on foot, using their bolas with great dexterity for the destruction of the guanaco 

 and the ostrich. Their dogs afforded them a valuable assistance, and since they 

 have become accomplished horsemen, their fleet coursers enable them to over- 

 take with ease all the animals of the wilderness. In times of scarcity they 

 dig for a small root, which is either eaten fresh or preserved dry. Horse-flesh 

 is their favorite food. 



The Patagonian toldos and their weapons are very rudely made, but their 

 skin mantles are not untastefully ornamented with rectihnear figures. In their 

 war-dress they have a very hideous appearance, and it would be difficult to im- 

 agine a more diabolical figure than that of a tall Patagonian ready for a fight, 

 his broad face painted scarlet, with black or blue stripes under the eyes, and 

 his coarse features distorted with fury. Their arms are bows and arrows, with 

 points of flint loosely attached with sinews, so as to remain sticking in the 

 wound. They are excellent archers, and use with skill the sling, the javelin, 

 and above all their formidable bolas, which serve them both for bringing the 

 guanaco to the ground or for breaking the skull of an enemy. When not en- 

 gaged in war or in the chase, the men, hke most savages, pass their time in ab- 

 solute idleness, leaving all the household work to the women. Amusements 

 they have but few. The use of dice they have learned fi'om the Spaniards. 

 They are said to be a false and deceitful people, but their hospitality and good-^^ 

 nature have been frequently extolled by travellers. 



