The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-04-14

their earthly OSSeSSlOnS-NlNeSr horses, even the few garments that cover their nakedness-for a little ''fire-water. The 'Pampas Patagones, so-called be- cause they inhabit the vast pampas. or plains to the north, are sub-divided into four tribes. known respectively as Pu- clches, or Eastern People''-the word Puel meaning east, and che. people; the Picunches, picun meaning north; the Pechtenches. or People of the Pines, pechun meaning pine-tree; and the Ranqueles, or those who dwell among the thistle beds, from ranquel, thistle Though not quite so degraded as their southern brothers, perhaps because far ther removed from civilization, they are treacherous. cowardly and quarrelsome to a degree. But they are not beggars; they live by the chase and by plunder'. bartering all to interruptions white traders for rum and trinkets.
 Then there are the Chenna Patagones, who inhabit the higher attitudes. and who differ both in language and physi- cal aspect from the other tribes, are less lazy and cratic. They are some times called Manzaneros. because their headquarters are at a place called Las Manzaneros. because their headquar- ters are at a place called Las Manza- mas" (the apples), where the Jesuits formerly had mission and planted great many apple trees. The Indians own sheep, cattle and horses in the sheltered valleys of the cordilleras, and make very good cider from the fruit that the old friars planted. They also brew an intoxicating drink from the beans of the Algaroba. which is in de- mand all over the country.
 Of course the term "Patagonian'' is entirely unknown among the Indians. Their true name, collectively and indi- vidually, is Taonecas, and by it all the tribes call themselves. The word Pata- zones, meaning duck footed men, re- fers to their peculiar foot-gear. The lower limbs are encased in boots with out soles, or long gaiters, made of guam aco skins with the beautiful yellowish fur turned outward The leg is cov- cred all around from below the knee, the fur passing over the top of the foot and around the heel, leaving the toes sticking out This trifiing circumstance obtained the appellation by which vast territory and all the people who in
 habit it are known to the civilized world The 'uppers'' or the gaiters, extending loosely across the top of the feet, exaggerated In breadth by the long hair on the edges. give the wearer the appearance of having paws, or "patas." When Magellan's men first | Tn aa1 n a account for the peculiar ppearance of their feet and the bright yellow fur
 upon their legs, and called them duck footed,
 The southern Tsonecas-as yet have seen no others-dress in the rudest fashion. A large, square rug of guana- co hide. sewed together, is fastened fur side outward), around the body un-
 der the arms, and extends about to the
 knees Another rug, with slit in the middle through which to pass the head,
 stiff, unkempt hair is partially held in place by strips of cloth, which are often large enough to form kind of cap or turban. Low down in the scale of hu- manity as they look, it appears that they have redeeming qualities. For in- stance, they will not practice polygamy l like most Indians, and they believe in the immortality of the soul. Did you
 ever notice that the character of a man, whether his skin be black. white, red, 1 brown or yellow, can be pretty accu-
 rately told by the sort of god he wor- ships, or rather by the attributes which
 his own imagination invests a Supreme
 Being? The Tehuelche deity is not ian eternal spider weaving webs to catch
 the souls of men," nor a revengeful be- l ing who intends to torment any of his
 creatures His name is Coche, and he I is of very tender loving and forgiv- l ing disposition. He is waiting for his
 children in happy hunting grounds be- yond the farthest rim of hills, where he has prepared all good thingsnecessary I to their happiness. The "good things
 mean a plentiful supply of food and 1 furs, unlimited wines (of which bever-
 age they are inordinately fond and pur-
 chase immense quantities of poor claret
 from the Chilians), no storms nor dark
 ness, and above all no more cold wealth CT. On the latter point the missionaries
 who go among them are obliged to be
 extremely careful. To their Antarctic imaginations the old-time hell of actual fire that we used to hear about presents far more attractions than the orthodox l heaven.
 FANNIE R WARD