The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-04-19
NATIVES OF PATAGONIA.
| DRESS OF TIE MEN-woMEN DO ALL TEE
MANUAL LABOR-oRNAMENTS.

-Four years ago Chill and she Argent
Inc Republic divided Patagonia between
them, the former taking the Straits of
Magellan, the key to the commerce of
the west coast, the latter the pampas.
Thus in the partition the Indians fell to
the Argentines. but they kept as far away
from their owners as possible, for fear of
| being impressed into the army. Their
numbers have been so much reduced
that there are not more than 5000 of
them lett. aud these remain around
Pucnta Arenas, where they find the so.
ciety OF the Chilianos more agreeable
than that of the Argentines further north
| They are still mindful OF their tribal
relations, aud have similar customs TO
those of the Sioux. Tie term Patagon-
ian is unknown to them and was given
by the early explorers because of their
large feet. Those who formerly lnhablt
ed the lower ATTITUDES had the tribal
name of Tehuelshes, while further north
they were called Chennas.
The native dress of the men is chirpa
or bleech clout; shirt of calico, which
is modern Innovation; leggings of
horsehide or the skin of the puma (the
pampa liou), aud over all splendid robe
OF guanaco fuc fit for a king. These
robes, like the blankets of the North
American Indians, are never laid aside,
and are worn like the celebrated breeches
of Bryan O'Lynn. The leather side is
painted III bright colors, with symbol
and tracery to represent the achievements
of the owner in battle or in the chase,
and some OF them bear fantastic designs.
III !
horses, and is much priced 10y the owner,
who will not part with ii unless he is
very drunk or thirsty. The best ones
are made of the SKI of young guanacos,
sewed together with the sinews OF the
ostrich, SO that the shape of the animal
will appear. The fur is soft and silken,
the backs and sides being of fawn color,
and the belly Of the purest white. One
can buy them Of the traders at Puenta
Arenas, bat they seldom go to market,
as people on passing vessels pick them
up for curiosities.
The Indian women dress as the men
do, and il is difficult for q stranger to
| distinguish the sex OF Patagonia native,
except from the difference in stature, as
the women are short and stumpy and
generally have a baby sIUng over their
backs. They do all the manual labor,
pitch the tents or toldos, as they are
| called, skin the game that is brought
down in the chase, make the robes, cook
the meals and everything else in the way
Of drudgery, for their lords aud masters
are opposed to every form of work that
cannot be done In the saddle. Both the
men aud women are given to wearing
| loads Of solid silver ornaments, much of
which is antique, ard handed down from
generation to generation. The silver
comes from the Andes, ana is obtained
| by trading with their neighbors, the
| Armenian Indians of Chill. Hunting is
| their business, ana their anus enents are
| gambling and horse racing. They are
| great smokers, but do not have the caiu
net of their North American brothers,
using cigaretts exclusively, like the
| Spauiards, from whom they have &C
| qnired the habit, and rolling them with
the skill and grace of naughty don.-
Philadephia Times.