Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-19


opinion Of their intelligence and generous dis |
position, and says that though they are keen |
oargainers, often spending two or three hours |
In debating the price of . single skin. they |
never fail 70 discern and appreciate DISPOSE |
ton 10 treat them fairly regular tariff with |
equitable prices was fixed and scrupulously
adhered 70 by which the barter Of pei |
tries and ostrich feathers was regu-
lated The prettiest things TO be found
here are rugs, made Of the breasts Of young
ostriches, cots down and beautiful - plumage
can be- The plumes are plucked from the
wings and tails Of living birds, but to make Q
rug the young ones are killed and skinned and
the soft hufy breasts sewn together till they
possessor OF one containing nine skins OF the
gray and white Rhes Darwinii, sewn together
In such . way that the colors sltern and pro-
duce hne artistic effect In some Of San
uagos 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 car
rtage robes, portieres even opera closks and
the fronts OF ball dresses for the esthetic. In
my own opinion the best use 20 which one can
chair, where it will prove . 10Y forever" be-
ing too rare 70 become common and too beau
utul 10 ever tire the eye
RArHEl A ooop LOOKING LOT.
The Tshuelches who come to Santa Cruz are
rather . good looking lot, with friendly and
pleasant fsces-before their earnings have
been invested in rum, alter which they retire
TO the mainland for Q genera jollifcAtion.
which usually degenerates into Q regular orgie
and winds up in row. Their foreheads are
low but not receding, noses sQuiline, mouths
large and coarse, teeth dazzling white and per-
fectiy regular, eyes small and deeply set, the
prominence Of the cheek bones giving their
faces the appearance Of having the ''oval" set
the wrong way. The color of their skin varies
according TO the individuals cleanliness. or
rather his lack OF it, but seems TO be yellowish
brown below the coatings OF dirt that have
been accommodating layer upon layer ever since
be 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 q f1llet tied around the head: and all
60 to the trouble Of Graduating every vestige
OF eyebrow. eyelash and beard THOR deport-
ment toward strangers and one another is eK-
tremely polite. without q trace OF seryility, and
they have q 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
fastened at the waist by belt, the latter some
times covered with silver, and over tins capa
or mantle OF guanaco fur When on horse
back their feet are encAsed In botos de potto;
but for reasons OF economy they do not wear
them at ordinary times. The chiripa il usually
of European flannel (bought Of the traders),
and fashioned something like Scotch kilt, and
III the waist-belt are stuck hunting knife, re-
volver. pipe. tobacco pouch, gambling para
phernalia, 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 lsssoing and throwing the bolas
To make q pair OF potro boots does
not need knowledge Of the cob
rt Ind sal1a fa~
granted that sit is poor foot which cannot
shape its own shoe" The modus operandi is as
follows: Having killed your horse, make an in
cision with a 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 1T for
wear the hide must be softened by hand, task
which necessitates considerable patience, for IL
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 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 Washington ball room.
DRESS OF THE WOMEN.
The women sport long calico robe beneath
the inevitable cspa o: guanaco skin, the latter
Adsttueu at tuo tuTOdb viii q NOOueQ peg or
silver pin, according to the worldly circum-
stances OF the wearer. They all perambulate
bare footed, potro boots being q luxury re-
served 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
or five years old, when they, too. don the kits.
The women wear their hair in plaits, artiicially
heightened by means of horse hair, and paint
their faces abominably. As among all Indians.
the females do most of the work. The men
60 hunting only when the larder is low and
peltries are wanted to exchange for rum and
tobacco, but the squaws are busy from morn
ing 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
as the cooking, dressing the game, &C., is left
to them. When not otherwise employed their
fingers are constantly busy weaving fllets
sewing guanaco capas, grinding stones for
bolas and softening potro boot legs.
On the death of q Tehuelche all his horses
dogs and other animals are killed, his capas
ornaments, bolas and other personal belongings
placed in q heap and burned, while the numer-
Gus widows keep up dismal wailing. The meat
of the horses is distributed among the rela-
tives 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 the biggest capa, and placed in a
sitting posture with its face to the east; and
then q cairn of stone is erected over him. vary
ing in size according to the importance Of the
family. FANNIE b WARD.