The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-24
THE PEOPLE OF PATAGONIA.
rEAsT-KSowN REGION OF AMERI-
CA EXAMINED BY SCIENTISTS.
Strange savages About Cape Horn,
Who Go Almost Naked I'm = FrtEfd
fifmate-Some of Them Are Giants,
while others Live in Boats.

Prof. J. p. Hatcher. Of Princeton uni
yersisy. has newly returned from re-
n.arkahle trip OF exploration IN hitherto
unknown region Of South Aueriea-nans-
ly. the wild interior Of Patagonia. He
visited Washington this week for the pgir-
pose Of depositin9 with the bureau Of eth
nology rich collection OF objects Illus
rating the mode of life of the varioas
tribes OF aborigines IL that part OF the
world These natives are among the
strangest and most picturesque savages IN
existence some 81 them being described as
representing almost the lowest stage In
the scale Of human development. Their
country too IL more than ordinarily inter-
eafng being associated since the earliest
times with rtimcrg ~ gigantic human IN
habitanfs and an astonishing fauna. Quite
recently some skeletons OF birds that had
heads az big az those Of horses have been
aug M They stood at leas. nine feet
h.gh. and had short wings. claws like an
eagles and beak ike a condor's. Il Is
likely that they attacked with success the
largest mammals contemporary with them.
being the biggest fowls 81 prey that ever
Nyed. but they became extinct long ago.
ard no there was no opportunity for Pr,
Hatcher to secure a living specimen.
Tho professor made several trips. during
one Of which-throIgf the desert intericr-
he did not see human being for over four
months excsnt q. A. Peterson. OF Prince
ton who accomuanes him. He discovered
I river never before heard Of, which Is
orc Of the iarges; IN Patagonia, very swift
and deep. But his most interesting OBJ
se-vations related 70 the aboriginal tribes.
respecting some of which almost nothing
was known OF these not the least notable
we're the savages OF the west coast. who
ere an aquatic people. living almost en-
slrely In small open boats. which they con-
sfruef with much skill out of large pieces
OF bark sewn together with sinew and
flexible whaienone. OF the latter ceard-
cradle quantities are thrown up along tbs
shore.
These natives feed almost exclusively on
shell hsh, which they pick up along eherc.
while the remains OF an occasional seal or
sea otter cast up by the waves or killed
with spears serves TO vary the monotony
of the diet Probably among no other peo-
ne In the world are the actual necassi ic9
Of life so few. With no constant habi'a-
tfon-no place of residence that can prop
ery be called a home--they move about
from one sheltered cove 70 another. Their
occupation OF any paticuiar locality Is en-
firsly dependent upon the abundance OF ed
file mousks and upon the weather. which
during inclemont periods may render a
weIl-sheitered spot desirable az temporal
~ village site On a few earthen sods In
the bottom Of the family canoe Is kept
constantly burning a small fire. which al
ways seems just on the point Of going ou..
About this fire they huddie when not en-
gagged In collecting food.
Naked I'm Wintry Weather.
The climate Is extremely cold. and
fierce storms are constantly raging. yet
these strange people instead OF wrapping
themselves In furs. go almost naked. Some
of them are clad In scraps OF cheap calico.
obtained by barter from the whites. which
are fashioned into rude garments. the cos-
tune Of the women being loose skirt
suspended from the shoulders and falling
below the knees Others. through choice
Or necessity cling 20 the primitive style Of
costume. which consists merely OF mar
row girth about the loins. To this Is some
times added piece OF sealskin held by
thongs In such a way as 10 be readily
shifted 10 any desired position as a pro-
teeiion agains. the wind.
For shelter en- land notwithstanding the
severe weather that prevails most OF the
time these aboriginss erect structures
stasee worthy 70 be called huts. consisting
OF few branches OF trees, the lower ends
OF which are stuck In the ground In a cir
Gle. while the upper ends are bent over
toward the middle and carelessly matched
together. Such a house. together with a
canoe couple OF paddles. one or two
spears or harpoons OF bone for the capture
OF seals and one or more baskets made
Of PUSHES for use In gathering mollusks.
fsifll all the domestic requirements OF a
family. From the great Accommodations of
shell heaps In many places periodically &C.
capl+d 1t Is evident that the people de-
scrbed have inhabited the region for a
long period during which their habits and
customs have undergone little change.
or very different character are the
IA he NJ 30 f.,xy
belong TO Araucanian stock. and are a
very superior race. The Tehueiches--as
hey call themselves-of Southern and
Eastern Patagonia are the people whose
unusual stature gave rise to the fables Of
early days 10 the effec. that the natives OF
tais region were giants. averaging nine or
len feet In height. II is a fact that they
are the tallest human beings In the world.
'he men averaging but slightly less than
* feet, while individuals OF four 10 six
inches above that mark are not uncon-
mon They are in reality by no means
tssages. but somewhat civilized barba-
Idhs They are almost unacduaInted with
ne use Of firearms. Notwithstanding scsne
contact with the whites but they have
pieny OF horses and dogs Unsurpa ssed
hunters. they capture the guanaco and The
fhea or South American ostrich. ard
ron the skins OF these and other AMI
Iafs they make their clothes and cover
!sss Tor their tents. They make beautiful
sapea" or nantes. % fur and feathers
~hlca are highly priced by Europeans and
ma ready market most OF the proceeds
seiHg spent for rad whisky, which Is
Traders -
bs'ore saying anything more about TITS
ssce or giants" Il may Be as we'll 70 re-
~ % some other tribes shout Cane Horn
u na,ca attracted the attention o. Prof.
.la'essf Fer example may Ne nsntionea
sae fahgans who 1--we nearer 70 the South
re man any other known people. Thav
u.s.apy certain small Islands lying south
.s 1eFfs Gel Fuego. and are found also on
w @asn branch Of that great island Itself
Ftsi1ory they occupy Is a mage ot
asan'ain peaks. and the conditions under
ascn they exist are almost beyond re1n-
-. soa ny civilized person. Darwin. the
aAsarsist, wrote OF them: these raro
sae most sbiect and miserable creatures I
ssysatre heheld. The men generally have
:. , n''er ekin or scsne small scrap. about
fge as packet handkerchief. which
11ey sufficient ~ cover their hacks
laced across the breast by strirgs
49,. aeeord'nc - the wind blows Z 10
ksa nom side - side. In another hAr-
-, net Tar distant. A woman wh,, vas
seAans a recently born child. came ore
AoasS'de The vessel and renalne,,
su oat az mere curiosity. while the Let
=. saa 'ha~e3 on TIE naked bosom ard
VI me skin % the naked baby
The fahssns' Dwellings,.
eae fshSsns hg''a hu,s o, poles with a
a. o. srash ara Gr9ss. about fhe shsna
s'1e o. hayc5ck- Just trsiaa ire
20. IRE "a made a.f ;he family arusts
,...s .e grass ana moss that cover the
heor tn some ex:ent--snS Nv 70
V.s altogether - their aSvantare--.An
~ OF these people Asve been rroi,~es
~ ss'ehary ara white Influences. hut
= thf'E primitive Inducements sxrf.a
e Admiration ~ tie t-,,s st,,, >ss,s',s..'