Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-06

their Southern brothers, perhaps hecaus,
farther removed from cililization, they ar,
treacherous, quarrelsome and cowardly to
degree. But they are not beggars-the,
live by the chase and by plunder, barterin.
to unscrupulous white traders for rum ant
trinkets.
Cider and a Drink From Beans
Then there are the Cbenna Patagones
who inhabit the higher attitudes, who differ
both in language and physical aspect from
the other tribes, and are less lazy and er.
ratio. They are sometimes called Manzan-
eros, because their headquarters are at q
placed named LAS Manzanas'' (the apples),
where Jesuits formerly had a mission and
planted good many apple trees. They
own sheep, cattle and horses in the sheltered
valleys of the Cordilleras, and make very
good cider from the apples hat the old
| friars planted They also brew an into1i-
eating drink from beans of the Algaroba,
which is in demand all over the country.
OF course the term 'Patagonian'' is en-
| tirely unknown among the Indians Their
true name, collectively and individually, is
Tsonecas, and by it all the tribes call them
selves. The word Pata-gones meaning
'duck-footed men" refers to their peculiar
I foot gear The lower limbs are encased in
boots without soles, or rather long CATERS,
made OF guanacO skins, with the beautiful
yellowish fur turned outward. The leg is
covered all around from below the knee,
the fur passing over the top of the
foot and around the heel, leaving the toes
sticking out. This trifing circumstance
obtained the appelation by which vast
territory and all the people who inhabit 1t
are known to the civilized world. The flaps
or "uppers" of the CATERS extending loose
ly across the top of their feet, exaggerated
in breadth by the long hair on the edges,
give the wearers the appearance of having
paws or patas. When Magellan's men
first saw these Indians they were unable to
account for the peculiar appearance OF their
feet and the bright yellow fur upon their
legs and called them 'duck-footed.
The Savage Idea of the Deity.
The Southern Tsonecas-as vet I have
seen no others-dress in the rudest fashion.
A large, square rug Of guanaco hides, sewed
together, is fastened Our side outward)
around the body under the arms and ex-
tends about to the knees Another rug,
with a slit in the middle through which to
pass the head, falls over the shoulders. The
long, stiff. unkempt hair is partially held in
place by strips of cloth, which are often
large enough to form a kind of cap, or tur-
ban. Low down in the scale of humanity
as they look, it appears that they have
some redeeming qualities. For instance,
they do not practice polygamy like most
Indians. and they believe in the immor-
tality of the soul. Did you ever notice
that the character of man, whether his
skin be white, black, red or yellow, can be
pretty accurately told by the sort of God he
worships, or rather by the attributes with
which his own Imagination invests su-
preme being?
The Tehuelche deity is not "an eternal
spider weaving webs to catch the souls of
men," nor revengeful being who intends |
to torment any of his creatures His name |
is Coche, and be is of a very tender, loving |
and forgiving disposition. He is waiting |
for his children in happy hunting grounds |
beyond the farthest rim of hills, where be |
has prepared all good things necessary to
their happiness The good things" mean
! plentiful supply of food and furs,
unlimited wine of which beverage
hey are inordinateiy fond and pur-
chase quantities OF poor stuff from the Chill
eans), no storms nor darkness, and above
Ill no more cold weather. On the latter
ocint, the missionaries who go among them
Ire obliged to be extremely careful To
heir antarctic imaginations the old-time
lell of actual fire that We used to hear about
presents far more attractions than the or
hodox heaven.
A Fen Picture OF Captain Reid.
Let US see what Captain Reid has to saw
bout the ''duck-footed men," glancing over
lis chapter on the giants and making here
nj there an extract:
Let us paint the portrait of the Pata-
oman himself. He wears no hat, but suffers
Is long black hair to hang loosely over his |
houlders, or more frequently gathers it into |
knot upon the crown of his head. To keen |
from Struggling into his eyes he usually
ears narrow strip of guanaco skin |
round his forehead, or q plated band of |
ae hair of the same animal; but although |
e possesses ostrich feathers at dis
retion, he rarely INDUCES in a
4 lume.he lili knows he is tail enough
angling to his heels, he wears loose man
e OF guanaco skins, which is of sufficient |
Ildth to wrap around his body and meet | ,
yer h1s breast. shoIld he feel cold enough |
D require it; but he often throws his man
e entirely aside to give him the freedom of |
Is arms, or more generally ties girdle {
noi.na oI oil IL ana leaves the upper part to fall
lrole. PerhapS his ample garment has
Ometh1ng to do in producing the exagger-
ted accounts that have been given OF the
-ature OF the Patagonians Certain it is | !
lat a man thus appareled looks | 7
lller than he otherwise would and pre-
ents altogether a more imposing appear
nee, The Catfre, in his civet cat "kaross,' q
nd the Pawnee Indian, in his robe of shaggy '
u1falo hide. loom very large upon karroo ,
nd pfairie-much larger in appearance
ian they really are. 1t is but natural, there
IRE, to suppose that the Patagonian, attired c
his long, straight guanacO mantle-per- q
APPS seen against the sky, standing upon | i
'e summit Of conspicuous cliff-would | t
resent truly gigantic appearance. .
FANNIE B. WARD.