The Leavenworth weekly times., 1879-05-29
The Indians Of Patagonia

/ do not wish to incur the charge OF
attempting to revive the exploded legend
of the mobile savage" in favor of the
Tehuelche race, but | must say that In
general intelligence, gentleness OF temper
chastity of conduct and conscientious be-
hayior in their social and domestic rela-
tions they are immessurably superior, not
only to the other South Americans In
digenous tribes, but also all their dis
advantages being taken into consideration
to the general run of civilized white men.
Their natural talents are displayed in
m arked manner by the rapidity with which
they pick up a new language and the ease
with which they grasp the totally new
ideas which the acquiring OF a complex
foreign Origin al range of tho usht is OF
most limited nature. Among the SOUTH
ern Tehuelches / met several who spoke
Spanish with ready ease, Notwithstanding
that they seldom had opportunities OF
practising it. There was one Indian who
called himself Capt. johnson, who sur
prised me very much when l first met him
by asking me with round British oath Tor
"a plug of tobacco"
Polysamy is admitted on principal, but
no man may marry more wives thsn he
can affort to maintain, and there is there
fore seldom more than one mistress TO each
household. Marriages de convepance are
yery rare; but as a matter OF form the
bride is purchased from her parents for a
certain number of mares or whatever
objects her lover can afford to give. But
as the dowry Of the girl generally quite
compensates for the expense her lover has
incurred in obtaining her, the transaction
must be considered rather as an exchange
| of presents than as a mere unsentimentai
bargain. Out of Tehuelche marriage
settlements orce entered into negotiations
| with rich old squaw for the purpose oil
| contracting matrimony with her daughter
who was a charming girl of about ID. The
| price we finally agreed upon was eight
mares, bsg of biscuits and some sugar
which was to procure from Sandy Point
| The dowry of the daughter consisted in
| four new guanaco mantles. 1 held out fol
| five and on my remaining intiexible on this
poipt, the ne sotiations fell through.
Again we read:
Husba nd and wife seem always to get or
very we'll together; indeed one of the pleas
ATTEST traits in the Telhuelche character
is the affection with which relations regarC
one another. The love of the paren
toward their offspring is almost morbid ii
intensity. Their grief at the decease OF 81
only child frequently manifests itself in tn,
most exaggerated manner. 1t is not un
usual in such cases for the parents to burr
all their BELONGINGS, kill all their horse
, and reduce themselves to state Of utte
poyerty-a touching proof of the eincerit.
and depth of their sorrow if not of tn
. soundness of their views on practica
economy. "When An Indian die, how
ever mauy horses he may possess, they n
ali killed and his other belongings n
! scrupulou.ly burned. Thus no family ca
acquire such preponderance OF wealth q
would enable il in time to obtain An a
e cendant influence over and curtail th
liberties of the rest of the tribe. Wha
+ ever the defect of this system may be fror
i the political economists point OF view,
seems to be very we'll adapted to the desire
circumstances Of the Tehuelches; and as
instance of how sociaiistic tendencies ma
J, be practically modified to suit certai
y exceptional conditions of existence, it
). perhaps not without some interest"
the Patagonian generally Mr.. Beerbohl
= writes:
If required,to distinguish the Tehuelct
u by single Characteristic epithet shou
'e call him not the noble bat the happy 81
N age. Far from being saturnine or grave,
n i, - light-heNe = child, al mirth q
10 ,ntenfment, and wonderfully easily NOV
1t to laughter. Lie is, indeed, very ples
ir ant matter for him. Without any exeFti,
on his part being neceoaxy, Ill his VA
I, are supplied IN sbunda.eA He Aas
b ossrous daily drudgsy y uDde9yo h I
= - slsnin 70 fsaf - b not dEivsa n