Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-20

blanket. am the proud possessor of on
containing nine skins of the gray and whit
Rhea Darwinii, sewn together in snch
way that the colors alternate and produce
fine artistic effect.
| Uses of the Rugs of Feathers.
In some of Santiago's marble palaces
have seen these ostrich rugs spread upon
the drawing-room floor, but they are far too
dainty and beautiful for that. have also
heard of their being used for carriage robes.
portieres, even opera cloaks and the front.
of ball dresses for the aesthetic In my OWL
opinion, the best use to which one can be put
is to throw over little-used couch or chair,
where it will prove 'joy forever" being
| too rare to become common and too beautl-
| full to ever tire the eye.
The Tehulches who come to Santa Cruz
are rather good looking lot, with friendly
and pleasant faces, before their earnings
have been invested in rum, after which they
retire to the mainland for a general jollif-
cation, which usually degenerates into a
regular orgie and winds up in row. Their
foreheads are low but not receding, noses
aqulline, mouths large and coarse, teeth
Dazzling white and perfectly regular, eyes
small and deeply set, the prominence of the
cheek bones giving their faces the appear
ance Of having the "oval" set the wrong
way. The color of their skin varies accord
Ing to the individuals cleanliness-or
rather his lack of it, but seems to be yell
low1sh brown below the coatings Of dirt
that have been accumulating layer upon
layer, ever since he was born.
Sexes Wear Their Hair Alike.
Yet they take considerable pains with
their hair, which men and women alike
wear long and keep from falling over their
faces by fillet tied around the head; and
all go to the trouble of eradicating every
vestige of eyebrow, eyelash and beard.
Their department toward strangers and one
another is extremely polite without trace
OF servility; and they have certain air of
well-bred restraint, combined with great
dignity of carriage, which is so impressive
that the most greedy trader does not treat
them with the familiarity born of contempt.
The.dress of the men consists Of chiripa,
fastened at the waist by belt, the latter
sometimes covered with silver; and over
this capa, or mantle, of guanaco fur.
When on horseback their feet are encased
in botos de potro but for reasons of econ
omy they do not wear them at ordinary
times. The chiripa is usually of European
flannel (bought Of the traders), and fash
ioned something like a Scotch kilt, and in
the waist-belt are stuck hunting knife, re-
volver, pipe, tobacco pouch, gambling para
Phernalis, drinking-horns, and goodness
knows what other personal belongings
When out hunting the belt and bolas are
strapped outside the capa, so that the upper
part of the latter may fly loose whenever
freedom of the arms is required, as in lasso-
ing or throwing the bolas.
How Native Boots Are Made.
To make a pair of potro boots does not
need knowledge of the cobbler's art, for
the Indians take it for granted that SIT is
The modus operandi is as follows: Having
killed your horse, make an incision with
sharp knife at the commencement of the
lower thigh, and another about two inches
below the curb-plate, and then pull the
hide off the legs. Thus one horse will sup
ply two pairs of Wellingtons, in each of
which the point of the hook becomes the
heel. But before fit for wear, the hide
must be softened by hand-a task which
necessitates considerable patience, for if not
well done, the boots soon become hard and
worthless.
Soon as they have been worn long enough
to take the shape Of the foot, the toe-ends
are sewn up, and the transformation Of your
do not have French heels, however, and
though said to be easy-ftting, would be
hardly suited to Washington ballroom.
The women sport long calico robe be-
meath the inevitable capa of guanaco skin.
the latter fastened at the throat with a
wooden peg or silver pin, according to the
worldly circumstances Of the wearer. They
all perambulate barefooted, potro boots be-
ing luxury reserved for the men. The
on whom most of the silver orna-
ments of the family are lavished, wear q
capa like their elders till or years old,
when they, too, don the kits. The women
wear their hair in plaits, artifcially length
ened by means of horse hair, and paint their
faces abominably.
The Women Do Ali the Work.
As among all Indians, the females do
most of the work. The men 20 hunting
only when the larder is low and peltries are
wanted to exchange for rum or tobacco,
night They are the literal hewers of wood
and drawers of water, and all the labor of
arranging tents, breaking up camp, as well
IS the cooking, dressing the game, ETC., is
left TO them. When not otherwise en-
ployed their fingers are constantly busy
weaving fllets, sewing guanaco capes, grind
ing stones for bolas and softening potro
bootlegs.
On the death of Tehulche all his horses,
dogs and other animals are killed, his capas,
ornaments bolas and other personal belong
ings placed in heap and burned, while the
numerous widows keep up dismal walling.
The meat of the horses is distributed among
;he relatives; and then the wives, their |
faces painted black and hair cut short in
front, return bag and baggage to the toldas |
of their parents or to that of the chief if they
prefer. The corpse is sewn up in its big
yest capa and placed in sitting posture,
With its face to the east and then cairn Of |
stones is erected over him, varying in size |
to the Importance of the family.
FANNIE B. WARD.