Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1897-12-04
PEOPLE OF PATAGONIA.
STRANGE CUSTOMS OF A COMPARE.
lively UNKNOWN RACE.

Are the Tchuciches-finc Family Tents
Professor j. b. Hatcher. of Prince
ton University, has newly returned
from remarkable trip OF exploration
in a hitherto unknown region of South
Americs-namely, the Wild interior OF
Patagonia The various tribes OF
aborigines In that part of the world,
writes Rene Bachc In the Detroit
Free Press, are among the strangest
and most picturesque savages in exist
ence. some OF them being described as
representing almost the lowest stage
in the scale OF human development.
Their country, too. ia more than
ordinarily interesting. being associated /
since the earliest times with rumors /
Of gigantic human inhabitants and an \
astonishing fauna Quite recently !
some skeletons of birds that had heads |
as biz as those of horses have actually |
been dug up. They stood at least |
nine feet high. and had short wings, |
claws like an eagles and beak like n
condor's. 1t Is likely that they at
tackled with success the HAygest NAM
mails contemporary with them. being
the biggest fowls Of prey tbat ever
lived: but they became extinct long
ago. and so there was no opportunity
for Professor Hatcher TO secure, q
living specimen.
The professor made several trips,
during one Of which-through the
desert interior-he did not see
human being for over four months,
/ except Mr.. O. 4. Peterson, Of Prince
ton. who accompanied him. He dis
I,..F.. h.nr of
which Is one of the largest IN Pata-
gonia. very swift and deep. Bat his
most interesting observations related
10 the aboriginal tribes. respecting
some Of which almost nothing was
known. OF these not the least no
table we're the savages Of the west
coast. who are an aquatic people, llv-
ing almost entirely In small open boats,
which they construct with much skill
-. 81 large pieces Of beech bark sewn
together with sinew and flexible
whalebone. Oftha latter considerable
quantities are thrown up along shore
These natives feed almost exclusive
/ " on shellfsh, which they pick up
along shore. while the remains OF an
occasional seal or SEA otter east mp by
the waves O. kilied with spears, serve
20 s AIRY the monotony OF the diet.
, / Probably among no other people In
the world are the actual necessities OF
life so few. With no constant hahita-
tion-uo place of residence that can
properlv be called a home-they move
: about from one sheltered cove 10 an
other. Their occupation OF any parti
: cuiar locality Is entirely dependent
upon the abundance OF edible mol
lusks and upon the weather. which
during Indictment periods may rendel
well-sheltered spot desirable as
temporary village site. On lev
X earthea sods IN the bottom Of tn
: family canoe Is kept constantly burn
l. ing a small fire. which always SEEM
: inst on the point Of going out. Abou
u this fire they huddle when not engage
- in collecting food.
= The climate Is extremely cold, an
!, fierce storms are constantly raging
81 vet these strange people instead o
i wrapping themselves IN furs, 90 a
most naked. Some of them are ella
= in scraps Of cheap calico, obtained b
n barter from the whites, which ar
i, fashioned into rude garments, the COS
:. tune Of the women being a loose skin
p suspended from the shoulders an
&c falling below the knees.
i, For shelter on land. Notwithstanding
= the severe weather that prevails mos
= of the time. these aborigines ere'
n structures scarce worthy 10 be Gale
huts. consisting Of few branches
"a trees, the lower ends of which al
"a stuck in the ground in circle, viii
80 the upper ends are bent over towar
al the middle and carelessly matched I
81 cether. Such a house, together wit
a. a canoe. couple Of paddles, one
va two spears or harpOons OF bone for q
m capture OF seals, and one or more ba
sv kets made OF rushes for use IN gathe
90 ing moilusks, fulfill all the domesi
;ce requirements Of a family. From q
ON great accumulation of shell heaps
are many places periodically occupied, II
~ evident that the people describ
ON have inhabited the region for a 10
period, during which their habits a
4 customs have undergone little chang
CIV OF very different character are
ole sribes 10 the east Of the Cordiller
They belong to Araucanian stock, a
he are "A very superior race.
80. / Tehueiches-as they call themSel'