Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1891-01-03
NO. 81.
NATIVES OF PATAGONIA
Dress af thS Women Do An ths
Manual I.abor-- Ornaments.


Manual tI.abor-Ortsments.
Four wears agoC Chill and the Argentine
Republic divided Patagonia between
them. the former taking the Straits OF
Magellan. the key to the commerce Of
the west coast and the latter the pampas.
Thus in the partition the Indians fell TO
the Argentines, but they kept n far away
from their owners AS possible. for fear of
being impressed into the army. Their
numbers lave been 80 much reduced
that there are not more than 5000 Of
Them left, and these remain around
Pucnta Arenas. where they find the So
ciety Of the Chillanos more agreeable than
that OF the Argentines further north.
They are still mindful of their tribal
relations. and have similar customs to
those Of the Sioux. The term Patagonian
Is unknown tc them and was given BY
the early explorers because of their large
feet. Those who formerly inhabited the
lower ATTITUDES had the tribal name Of
Tehuelches, while further north they
were called Chennas.
The native dress OF the men Is chirpa
or brvech clout; a shirt of calico, which
is a modern innovation; leggings of
horsehide or the skin Of the puma (the
pampa lion). and over all splendid robe
of guanaco fur tit for any king These
robes, like the blanket OF the North
American indians are never laid aside,
and are worn like the celebrated breeches
of Bryan OLynn. The leather side Ia
painted IN bright colors, with symbol and
traccry 10 represent the achievements of
the owner in hattIe or in the chase, and
some of them bear fantastic designs. A
we'll tanned robe il worth half a dozen
horses. and is much priced by the owner,
who will not part with II unless he is very
drunk or thirsty The best ones are
made Of the skins 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. but they seldom 60 to market, as
people on passing vessels pick them up
for curiusiiics.
The Indian women dress as the men
do. and il is difficult for n stranger to
distinguish the sex OF a Patagonia native,
except from the difference i'm stature, as
the women are short and stumpy and
generally have baby slung over their
backs. They do all tine 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 and masters
are opposed 10 every form Of work that
cannot be done in the saddle. Both the
men aud women are given 10 wearing
loads Of solid silver ornaments, much Of
which is antique, and handed down from
Z generation 10 generation. The silver
comes from the Andes. aud is obtained
by trading with their nciglhors, the
/ Aurauian Indians OF Chill. limiting is
their business, and their ainusencnts are
gambling and horse racing. They are
great smokers, but do not have the calu-
met Of their North American brothers,
using cigarettes exclusively. like the
I Spauiarls. from whom they have ac-
qnired the habit. and rolling them with
the skill and grace Of n naughty don. -
/ Philadelphia Times.