Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-10
The Indians Of Patagonia.

81 do not wish to Incur the charge Of attempt
Ing to revive the exploded legend OF the noble
savage In favor Of the Tehuelche race, but
must say that in general intelligence, gentle
ness Of temper, chastity OF conduct, and con-
sctentious behavior In their social and domestic
relations. they are tmmeasurabiy superior not
only to the other South American Indigenous
tribes, but also, all their disadvantages being
taken into consideration to the general run Of
civilized white men. Their natural talents are
dis played In marked manner by the rapidlty
with which they pick up new language, and
the ease with which they grasp the totally new
ideas which the acquiring OF complex foreign
tongue must necessarily entail On race whose
original range OF thought is of most limited
nature. Among the southern Tehueches met
several who spoke Spanish with ready ease
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. that they seldom had oppor-
who called himself Capt. johnson, who sur,
prised me very much when first met him by
asking me with round British oath for a plug
CT tobacco
Polygamy Is admitted on principle: but no
man may marry more wives than he can af-
ford to maintain, and there is, therefore, sci.
dom more than one mistress to each household
Marriages de CONVEYANCE are very rare: but as
matter of form, the bride is purchased from
her parents for certain number of mares or
whatever objects her lover can afford to give
But as the dowry Of the girl generally Quite
compensa teS Tor the expense her lover has in
Cured In obtaining her, the transaction must
be considered rather as an exchange of pres
entS than as mere unSentimental bargain
details OF Tehuelche marriage settlements l
Cnce entered into negotiations with a rich old
squaW for the purpose OF contracting matri-
m mo- with her daughter, who was charming
upon was eight mares, bag of biscuits and
some sugar, which l was to procure from Sand
Point. The dowry of the daughter consisted In
four new guanaco mantles. held out for five,
and, on my remaining infiexible on this point,
the negotiations fell through"
Again we read:-
very well together; indeed one Of the pleas
ATTEST traits in the Tehuelche character is the
affection with which relations regard one
another. The love OF the parents toward their
Their grief at the decease Of an only Child fire.
quently man1fests itself in the most exaggerated
manner. 1t is not unusual in such cases for the
parents to burn all their belongings kill all
their horses, and reduce themselves to state
OF utter poverty-a touching proof of the sin
certify and depth of their sorrow, II not of the
"When an Indian dies however many horses he
may possess, they are all killed, and his other
belongings are ScrupulOuSly burned. Thus, no
family can nae, acquire such preponderance Of
cendant influence over and curtail the liberties
of the rest OF the tribe. Whatever the defects of
system may be from the political economists this
point OF view, 1t seems TO be very well adpted to
the desires and circumstances of the Tehuelches:
and as an instance how sOcialistic tendencies
may be practically modified to suit certain eX-
cepClOnl cOndltlOnS OF existence 1t Is perhaps
not without some interest" OF the Patagonian
generally MIR. Beerbohm writes:-
If required to distinguish the Tehuelche by
single Characteristic epithet should call him
not the noble, but the happy savage. Far from
being saturnine or grave, he is as light hearted
as q child, all mirth and contentment, and won
derfully easily moved to laughter. Life is in
deed, very pleasant matter for him. Without
any exert1on on his part being necessary. all his
wants are supplied in abundance He has no
onerous daily drudgery to undergo; he has no
enemies to fear; he Is not driven from his hunt
fairgrounds to starvation and death like his
North American cousins, by the ever advancing
white man. He is seldom visited by Sickness
and his life is unusually prolonged That he
has absolutely no troubles will not affirm, but
II he has any he certainly takes them very
liphtly.'