Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-07-27

that calls their faculties into full exercise
their features light up with unexpected m
telligence and animation. They are almos
as initiative as monkeys, and are all grea
liars falsehood is universal and inveterat
with men, women and children. To thes
traits should be added thorough-pace'
treachery and what might seem rather in
consistent with their other quaIities,a larg
share of vanity, and an immoderate love o
praise. They are excessively filthy IN thei
personal habits. They never wash them
selves; hands and faces are usually cover
ed with a thick deposit of dirt. The mer
sometimes paint or bedaub their faces will
a kind of red earth. Charcoal is also uset
as cosmetic. A broad line Of red, alter
mating with stripe of black,in various fan
tastic figures, is favorite style of decora
ton. The women make themselves. if pos
sible, still more hdeous than the men, by
the application of pigment made OF clay
blood, ,and grease. Some of them would be
very comely, if only cleanly, and content
to leave nature less strenuously adorned. ;.
The moral character of the people cores
ponds with their appearance and habits, land
is about as bad in every respect as it can
possibly be. There are even strong grounds
including the confessions of some OF them
for believing that they are addicted 10
cannibalism, and that they sometimes Kill
and devsur, not only strangers, but men,
bers of their own tribe.
These savage giants live a rowing, Arab
| oo,t,pro1i,, from tho
neighborhood of one fountain or stream to
that of another. They are good riders, and
have many horses.most of which have been
stolen from the Spanish settlements near
the northern border of their territory. The
highest accomplishment Of young Patago-
man is to BE- an expert horse-thief. Their
habltat;ons are small and movable, consist
ing merely of framework of stakes, COW
cred with skins of the guanaco. This crea-
ture is quadruped allied to the Peruvian
llama. Its flesh is their chief article OF
food; and its skin is used for clothing and
various other purposes. The only weapons
of the natives are theirlong knives and the
bolas, or balls: This is the name given to
the curious implement with which they
capture their game. 1t consists OF two round
stones, or leaden balls, when these can be
procured, weighing each about pound, and
connected by strap or thong of leather,
ten or twelve feet long. When engaged in
the chase.his horse at the highest speed, the
rider holds one ball IN his hand, and whirl'
the other rapidly above his head. When it
has acquired sufficient momentum. 1t Is
hurled with unerring aim at the object OF
pursuit, and either strikes the victim dead,
or coils nextricaby about him, and roots
him to the spot-a helpless mark for the
hunters knife.
Such were the people among whom the
unfortunate seaman was doomed to pass
rather more than three months,n great dis
comfort and anxiety. On three or four oc-
casions, his life was in serious danger from
some of the more ferocious members OF the
tribe. He owed his escape mainly to their
cupidity and their love of strong liquor, OF
which as we'll as of rice, tobacco, flour, SUI
gar and other favorite articles of food, he
promised them immense quantities, on con-
dition that they would bring him to set
tlement Of white men. The old Chief by
name Parosilver, with whom he lived, also
stood his friend in some critical emergen-
cies. Fortunately for Mr.. Bourne, the chic
was rather less blood-thirsty than most o
his followers, though otherwise Of sufil'
ciently ogreish disposition. The following
account of wooing and wedding, graph
cally narrated by Mr.. Bourne, will give ar
idea of the domestic life of Patagonlan gi
ant -
Zone evening the chief, his four wives
two daughters, an infant granddaughter
and myself were scattered about the lodge
enveloped in a smoke of unusual strength
and density. While the others sat around
as unconcerned as so many pieces of bacon
| lay fiat, with my face close to the ground
and my head covered with piece of qua
naco-skn, the only position in which it was
possible TO gain any relief from the sitting
fumlgation. While IN this attitude, fan
cied heard the tramp of many feet with
out and a confused muttering, as if null
tlude of Indians were talking together
Presently, hoarse voice sounded in front
evidently aimed at the ears of some one
within, to which the chief promptly repli'
ed. | caught few words, enough TO salts
fy me that | was not the subject OF thell
colloquy, but that there was lady IN the
case. The conversation grew animated, ,ano
the equanimity of his high mightines the
chief was somewhat disturbed. Cast ;
penetrating glance into the smoke at the
female members of our household, to dis
Germ, if possible, whether any one of then
was specially interested. One look was
sufficient. The chiefs daughter-who by
the way was a widow, with one hopefu
scion springlng up by her side-sat listen
ing to the conversation with anxiety ant
apprehension visible in every feature. He
mother sat near her, her chin resting upor
her hand, with an anxious and thoughtful
expression of fcountenance. The invisible
speaker without, it soon appeared, was al
unsuccessful suitor oi the daughter, and hat
come with his friends to press his claim
He urged his suit, if not with classic, will
earnest eloquence, but with success ill-pro
portioned to his efforts. The chief told hin
he was a poor, good for nothing fellow, hat
no horses, and was unfit to be his son-in
law, or any one elses. The outsider wa
not to be so easily put off; he pressed hi:
suit with fresh energy, affirming that his de
iciency of horses was from want of oppor
tunity, not from lack of will or ability tC
appropriate the first that came within hi:
reach. On the contrary he claimed to be
as ingenious and accomplished a thief a:
ever swung a lasso or ran off with horse
and mighty hunter besides, whose wife
would never suffer for want Of grease. The
inexorable chief hereat got considerably ex