The Savannah morning news., 1904-06-12

Tehueleches. The giants" if there
ever were any Patagonians deserving
the name, were found among this tribe,
who are much taller and more slender
than any of their neighbors, and have
a different complexion, being red like
the North American Indians, rather
than muddy brown, like the South
Americans. They are excessively dir
ty, lazy and trea cherous, fond of per-
sonal adornment made out of bones
shells, beads and silver gold, strange
~ enough, they do not like and they
are ready at any time to barter all
their earthly possessions--wives, horses,
even the few garments that cover
their nakedness-for a little fire
water"
The "Pampas Patagones," so called
because they inhabit the vast pampas,
or plains to the north, are subdivlded
into four tribes, known, respectively,
as Puelches, or Eastern People"-the
word Puel meaning east and che people;
the Picunches, picun meaning north:
the "Pechtenches, or people of the
pines" pechten meaning pine tree, and
the Ranqueles, or those who dwell
among the thistle beds, from ranquei,
a thistle. Though not quite so de-
graded as their southern brothers, per-
maps because further removed from
civilization, they are treacherous, cow
ably and quarrelsome to a degree.
But they are not beggars; they live
by the chase and by plumber; barter
ing all to INSCRIPTIONS white traders
for rum and trinkets.
Then there are the Cinema Pata-
cones who inhabit the higher attitudes.
and who differ both in language and
physical aspect from the other tribes,
are less lazy and erratic. They are
if7an an11
their headquarters are at place call
ed Las Manzanas (the apples), where
the Jesuits formerly had a mission and
planted a great many apple trees The
Indians own sheep cattle and horses
in the sheltered valleys of the cordil-
ieras and make very good cider from
the fruit of the trees that the old
friers planted. They also brew an in
toxicating drink from the beans of the
algaroba. which is in demand all over
the country.
OF course the term "Patagonian" is
entirely unknown among the Indians.
Their true name. collectively and in
dlVidually, is Tsonecas, and by ii all
the tribes call themselves. The word
Pata-gones, meaning duck footed
men. refers to their peculiar footgear.
The lower limbs are incased in boots
without soles, or long CATERS, made of
guanaco skins with the beautiful vel
lowish fur turned outward The leg
Is covered 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 trifling
obtained the appellation
by which a vast territory and all the
people who inhabit 1t are known to the
civilized world. The "uppers." or gait
ers, extending loosely across the TOP
OF the feet, exaggerated in breadth bv
the long hair on the edges, give the
wearer the appearance of having paws.
or 'patas." When Magellan's men first
saw these Indians they were unable to
account for the peculiar appearance of
their feet and the bright yellow fur
upon their legs, and. called them
'duck-footed."
The Southern Tsonecas-as vet / have
seen no others-dress in the rudest
ashton A large, square rug of guiana
% hide sewed together is fastened (fur
side outward) around the hody under
he arms and extends about to the
lnees. Another rug with slit in the
middle, through which to pass the head.
'alls over the shoulders. The long stiff
81 .kempt hair is partially held in place
by strips of cloth, which are often large
enough to form a kind of cap or turban.
CIV down in the scale of humanity as
hey look it appears that they have re-
ieeming qualities. They believe in the
of the soul. Did you ever
notice that the character Of a man.
his skin be black, white, red,
-rown or yellow, can be pretty accu-
-ately told by the sort of god he wor-
ships or rather by the attributes which
MS own imagination invests a supreme
being? The Tehuelche deity Is not ian
eternal spider weaving webs to catch
he souls of men," nor a -evengeful be-
ng who intends to torment any Of his
,reatures. His name is Coche. and he
s of a very tender. loving and forgiv-
ng disposition. He is waiting for his
children in happy hunting grounds be-
yond the farthest rim of hills, where he
has prepared all good things necessary
% their happiness. The "g BOD things"
mean a supply of food and flrs, unlim-