The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-08-17
The Patagonians,

Iar OUT OF tne way, aIter all, Wnen ne ue-
scribed the people inhabiting the neighbor.
hood of Magellan Straits, as giants. Mr.
Bourne, whose adventures in Patagonia
have excited great attention and who was
among them several months describes
them as of colossal size, and proportion.
ate strength, Notwithstanding they seldom
taste vegetables. but subsist chiefly on the
flesh of wild animals, mostly horses. The
account which he gives of these amable
people is quite interesting, though not Of
a character to induce persons of taste and
refinement to emigrate to the southern ex-
treme of the American continent.
"In person the Patagonians are large
appearing, at first sight, absolutely gigan-
tic. They are taller than any other race
| have seen, though it is impossible to
give any accurate description. The only
standard of measurement had was my
own height. which is about five feet ten
inches. | could stand very easily under
the arms of many of them; and all the
men were at least head taller than my
self. Their average height, | should think,
is nearly six and a half feet; and there
were specimens that could be little less
than seven feet high. They have broad
shoulders, full and we'll developed chests.
frames muscular and finely proportioned-
the whole figure and air making an i'm
preston like that which the first view Of
the sons of Anak is said to have made on
the children of Israel. They exhibit enor.
nous strength whenever they are sufficient
ly aroused to shake off their constitution
al laziness. and exert it. They have large
heads. high cheek bones. like the North
American Indians, whom they also resem-
BILE in their complexion, tSough it is shade
or two darker. Their foreheads are broad
but low, the hair covering them nearly TO
the eyes. The eyes are full, though ex-
pressive Of but little intelligence. Thick,
coarse and stiff hair protects the head. its
abundance making any artificial covering
superf1uous. Their teeth are really beau.
tiful, sound and white-about the only
attractive and enviable feature. Of their
persons. They have deep, heavy voices,
and speak irf gutteral tones-the worst
gutteral ever heard-with a muttering.
indistinct articulation, much as though
their mouths were filled with hot pudding.
Their countenances are generally stupid;
but on closer inspection there is CLEAN
of low cunning that flashes through this
dull mask, and is increasingly discerna-
BILE on acquaintance with them.
"When excited, or engaged in any earn
est business that calls their faculties into
full exercise, their features light up with
unexpected intelligence and animation.
They are almost as initiative as monkeys,
and are all great liars, falshood is univer-
sal and inveterate with men women and
children. To these traits might be added
a Thoroughbred treachery, and, what
might seem rather inconsistent with their
other qualities, large share of vanity.
and an immoderate love of praise. They
are excessively filthy in their personal
habits. They never wash themselves;
hands and faces are usually covered with
thick deposit of dirt. The men some
times paint or bedaub their faces with a
kind Of red earth. Charcoal is also used
as cosmetic. broad line of red, alter
mating with stripe of black, in various
fantastic figures, is favorite style of deco
ration. The women make themselves, il
possible still more hideous than the men,
by the application of a pigment made Of
|
would be very comely, if only oleanly and
content to leave nature less strenuously
adorned. The moral character Of the
people correspond with their appearance
and habits, and is about as bad in every
respect as it can possibly be. There are
even strong grounds--including the con-
fessions Of some of them-for believing
that they are addicted to canibalism, and
that they sometimes kill and devour, moi
only strangers, but members Of their own
tribe.
"These savage giants live rowing,
Arab. like life, wandering continually from
the neighborhood of one fountain or stream
to that of another. They are good riders
been stolen from the Spanish settlements
near the northern border of their territory
The highest accomplishment Of young
Patagonian, is to be an expert horse thief
Their habita,ions are small and movable
consisting merely of framework OF stakes
covered with the skins Of the guanaco.-
This creature is quadruped allied to the
Peruvian lama. Its flesh is their chief ar
ticle OF food; and its skin is used for cloth
ing and various other purposes. The on
|ly weapons Of the natives are their long
knives, and the bolas. or balls. This is the
name given to the curious implement with
which they capture their game. 1t con
sists of two round stones or leaden balls
when'these can be procured. weighing eaci
about pound. and connected by straI
or thong OF leather, ten or twelve feet long
When engaged in the chase, his horse a
the highest speed, the rider holds one bal
in his hand and hurls the other rapidly a
bove his head. When it has acquired
sufficient momentum, it is hurled with un
erring aim at the object ofpursuit. and Ell
ther strikes the victim dead, or coils mex
tricably about him, and roots him to tn
spot-a helpless mark for the hunter
knife"
FEMALE EouEsTR1ANsHIP.-T is
f growing interest in the West, in behalf o
female equestrianship. We are glad 4
see it encouraged. In Columbiana coun