The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-12-20

thirty miles from east to west and ten
miles across at the widest point. and IS so
deep that Or. Moreno could find no bot
tom, even a short distance from shore. with
a line 40 feet long. Near Lake Viedma is
a volcano-the Chalton-that constantly
throws out smoke and ashes
The Santa Cruz river varies in breadth
from four hundred yards TO nearly
mile, and in some places is one hun
dred feet deep. 1t runs along wind
ing valley, almost due eastward. with
a rapidity of current from fifteen TO twenty
miles an hour. Renders of history will re-
member that Magellan remained at Santa
Cruz anu Port St. Julian more than half
the year 1520-just before he sailed south
ward and discovered the strait that bears
Highlander (Mr. Clarke, from Salem.
Mass.l, who lived at Pabon sew
eral years as administrator for the
owner of the island. carrying on trade
with the Tehuelches. He entertains q high
disposition. and says that though they are
keen bargainers, often spending two
three hours in debating the price of q single
skin, they never fail to discern and appre-
ciate q disposition to treat them fairly. A
regular tariff, with equitable prices. " as
fixed and scrupulOusly adhered to, by
which the barter of peltries and ostrich
feathers was regulated. The prettlest
things to be found here are rugs made of
the breasts of young Ostriches, soft as
down and beautiful as plumage can be.
The plumes are plucked from the wings
and tails of living birds: but to make n rug.
the young ones are killed and skinned and
the soft fluffy breasts sewn together till
they reach the size of a blanket. / am the
proud pOssessOr of one containing nine
skins, of the gray and white Rhea Oar
winii, sewn together in such q way that the
cOlOrs alternate and produce q fine artistic
effect. In some of SantiagO's marble pal
aces have seen these ostrich rugs spread
upon the drawing-rOOm> floor; hut they are
have also heard of their being used for car
rage robes, portieres, even Opera-cloaks and
the fronts OF ball-dresses for the aesthetic.
In my own opinion the best use to which
one can be put is To throw over little
used couch or chair, where 1T Will prove
10y forever" being too rare to become
common, and too beautiful to ever tire the
eye.
The Tehuelches 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 general
jollihcation. which usually degenerates
into a regular Orge and winds up in q row.
Their fOreheads are low but not receding,
noses aquiline. mouths large and coarse,
teeth dazzling white and perfectly reRu-
lar, eyes small and deeply set the promi-
hence of the cheek bones giving their
faces the appearance of having the "ovaP
set the wrong way. The color OF their
skin varies according to the individual
cleanlines5-or rather his lack OF II. bnt
seems to be q yellowish- brown below the
cOatings of dirt that have been accumulat-
ing, layer upon layer, ever since he was
born. Yet they take considerable pains
with their hair. which men and women
alike wear long and keep from falling over
their faces by tilet tied around the head;
and all go to the trouble of Graduating
every vestige of eyebrow. eye-lash and
beard. Their department. toward strangers
and one another is extremely polite with
ont anfc nd HAY haU a
certain air of we'll bred restraint, CON-
bined with great dignity Of carriage which
is so impressive that the most greedy
trader does not treat them with the famili-
arity born of contempt.
DRESS OF THE NATIVES.
The dress of the men consists of q chiripa
fastened at the waist by q 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
toned something like q Scotch kilt. and in
the waist-belt are stuck hunting-knife,
revolver, pipe, tobaccO-pouch, gam
bling paraphernalia, drinking horns. and
goodness knows what other personal
belt and bolas are strapped outside
the capa, SO that the upper part of the lat
ter may fly loose whenever freedom of the
arms Is required. as in lassOing or throw
ing the bolas. To make q pair of potrO
boots does not need q knowledge of the
cobbler's art, for the Indians take it for
granted that lit is o poor foot which can
not shape Its own sbOe" The mOdus
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 supply two pairs
of WellingtOns. In each of which the point
of the hook becomes the heel. But before
| tit for wear the hide must DO s0ftened by
banda task which necessitates consider
able patience. for If not we'll 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 sown
up. and the transformation Of your horses
hooks into boots is complete. They do not
have French heels, however, and, though
said to be easy-fitting. would be hardly
| suited to q Washington ballroom.
The women sport a long calico robe be-
meath the inevitable capa of guanacO skin,
| the latter fastened at the throat with a
wooden peg silver pin. according to
the worldly circumstances of the wearer.
They all perambulate bare-fOOted, potrO
boots being luxury reserved for the men.
The children. on whom most of the silver
ornaments of the family are lavished. wear
| a capa like their elders till four OF five
years old, when they. too. don the kits.
| The women wear their hair in plaits, arti-
Totally heightened by means of horse hair,
and paint their faces abominably.
AS among all Indians, the females do
most of the work. The men go hunting
only when the larder low and peltries
are wanted to exchange for rum and
tobacco; but tbs squaws are busy from
morning till night. They are the literal
hewers Of wood and drawers of water, and
all the labor of arranging tents. breaking
up camp as well the cooking. dressing
the game, ETC., is left to them. When not
otherwise employed their fingers are con-
stantly busy weaving filets, sewing
guanacO capes. grinding stones for bolas
and softening potro bootlegs.
On the death of Tehuelche all his
horses, dogs and other animals are killed
his capas. ornaments. bolas and other per-
sonal belongings placed in a heap and
burned. while the numerous widows keep
up dismal walIng. The meat of the
horses is distributed among the relatives,
and then the wives. their faces painted
black and hair cnt short in front return
bag and baggage to the toldas of their
parents. or to that of the chief if they pre-
fer. The corpse is sewn up in its biggest
capa and placed in sitting posture with
its face to the east and then n cairn of
stones is erected over him, varying in size
according to the Importance of the family.
FANNIE II VAIN