New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-12

ALMOST NAKED IN A rRIG1D CrIMATE-soME
OF THEM ARE GIANTS. WHILE OTHERS
ARE AQUATIC AND LIVE IN BoATA
From The Boston Transcript.
Professor J. r. Hatcher, Of Princeton Uni
versity. has newly returned from a remarkable
trip OF exploration In a hitherto unknown region
OF South America-namely. the wild interior of
Patagonia. He visited Washington this week for
the purpose of deposting with the Bureau OF
Ethnology a rich collection Of obj ,cts illustrating
the mode OF life OF the various tribes OF abO
rhymes in that part OF the world. These natives
are among the strangest and most picturesque
savages in existence some Of them being de-
scribed as representing almost the lowest stage
In the scale Of human development. Their coun-
try, too, Is than ordinarily interesting
being associated since the earliest times with
rumors OF gigantic human inhabitants and an
astonishing fauna. Quite recently some ssele-
tons of birds that had heads as big those Of
horses have actually been dug up. They stood
at least nine feet high. and had short wings.
claws like an eagles and a beak like a condor's.
II Is likely that they attacked with success the
largest mammaly contemporary with them.
being the biggest fowls Of prey that ever lived.
but they became extinct long ago. and so there
was no opportunity for Professor Hatcher to Sc
cure living specimen.
The Professor made several trips. during one
of which-through the desert interior-he did not
see a human being for over -four months except
q. A. Peterson, OF Princeton. who accompanied
him He discovered river never before heard
Of which is one OF the largest In Patagonia. very
servations related to the aboriginal tribes re-
speeding some Of which almost nothing was
known. OF these not the least notable were the
savages OF the west coast. who are an aquatic
people living almost entirely In small open
boats which they construct with much skill out
az large pieces OF bark sewn together with
sjnew and flexible whalehone. or the latter con-
siderable quantities are thrown up along shore.
These natives feed almost exclusively on she'll
fish. which they pick up along shore while TIE
remains of an occasional seal or sea otter cast
I'D by the waves killed with spears serve to
vary the monotony OF the diet Probably among
no other people In the world are the actual ne
cessities OF life 60 few. With no constant habi-
tation--no place Of residence that can properly
be called n hOme-they move about from one
any particular locality Is entirely dependent
upon the abundance OF edible molusks and upon
the weather which during inclement periods
NAV render a well-shetered spot desirable az
.anonorarv village ate on a few earthen sods
IN the bottom Of the far1ily canoe is kept con-
stantly burning small fire. which always seems
inst on the point OF going out About this IRE
they huddle when not engaged In collecting
! food.
NAKED IN WINTRY WEATHER.
The climate is extremely cold. and fierce
storms are constantly raging: yet these strange
| people instead of wrapping themselves III iuTs,
J % almost naked Some Of them are clad IN
; scraps OF cheap calico obtained BY barter from
the whites, which are fashioned into ruoe gar
ments the costume Of the women being loose
! skirt suspended from the shoulders and falling
| below tho knees. Others. through choice or ne
cessity cling to the primitive style or costume.
which consists merely of narrow grin apou u,
sealskn held by thongs In sucn way as 10 ne
readily shifted TO any desired position as pro,
lection against the wind
! For shelter on land, Notwithstanding the severe
weather that prevails most Of the time. these
| aborigines erect structures scarce worthy 10 DC
called huts consisting or rev orancn ,n Da
ground in n circle while the upper ends are bent
| over toward the middle and carelessly tfatched
together. Such a house. togetncF Win a ca NO.
! n couple OF paddles. one or two spears or MAJ
| moons of bone for the capture or seaIs' ana one
! or more baskets made OF rushes Tor use III
gathering mousks fulhi al rne ,,'n nrrsst ac.
! cumulations Of shell heaps in many PAGES pen.
! odlcally occupied II is evident that the peopie
described have inhabited the region for Iohg
perlod during which their habits ana CUSTOMS
have undergone little change , ,. :.
| az very different character are the tribes to
tho east OF the Cordilleras. They belong to
a.,canian stock and are a very superior race
The Tehuelches-as they call themseives-o'
southern and eastern Patagonia are inc peoPit
,bose unusual stature gave rise 70 the rapies
W"oss , davs tn the effect that the natives Of
,hts region we're giants. averaging nine or Ter
Feet In height 1t Is a fact that they are th'
tallest human beings IN me wGs'1 CO. "e ho ind
ei,,e,s of Tour to six inches above that marF
@ arc not uncommon. They are IN reahty by NJ
aans savases but somewhat civilized Darpa
Iean' They are almost unacquainted with thu
nsa Of firearms. notwithstanding some contac
With the whites. but they nave penty Oh hoi se'
and dogs. Unsurpassed hunters, they captur'
.ha o,,anaco and the rhea. or South American
ostr,ch' and from the skins OF these and othe
animals they make cloth, and coverings To-
their tents They make beauntul capes; o.
manties OF fur and feathers. which are highl,
nr,qed nv Europeans and find a ready market
most OF the proceeds being spent for bad wills
kew which Ia brought into the country IN guam
Before saying anything more about this rae
Of giants 1t may be as wei to refer to som
other tribes about Cape Horn which attracte'
The attention of Professor Hatcher. For tx
annie NAV be mentioned the Yahgans. who liv
nearer to the South Pole than any other know
people They occupy certain small Islands YIN
. eouth of Terra del Fuego and are found ais
on the south beach Of that great Island Itself
J, The territory they occupy Is maze OF noun
tain peaks. and the conditions under wnich .h '
exist are almost beyond realization by CIV