Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-10-20
THE PATAGONIANS.
They Are Not of the Lofty Stature
that Was Ascribed to Them.


that Was Ascribed to Them.
Concerning the reputed giant race o
TERRA del Fuego, a writer in the Deser
News says:
1t should be remembered that Their,
are several distinct nations o.
Patagonians. not including tn,
Araucanians on the north, nor tn,
, Fuegoans on the south and that eacf
| nation has distinguishing characters
| tics. The Indians that we see SLOUGH
ing about Punta Arenas and the
country between there and Santa Cru,
are the southern Tehueleches. The
! grants, 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 dirty, lazy and
treacherous. fond of personal adorn-
ment made out of bones, shells. beads
ana silver (gold. strangely enough, they
10 not like), and they are ready at any
time to barter all their earthly DOS
sessions-wives, horses, even the few
garments that cover their nakedness-
for little "firewater'
The ''Pampas Patagones," so-called
because they inhabit the vast pampas,
or plains to the north, are subdivided
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 ranquel a
thistle. Though not quite so degraded
as their southern brothers, perhaps
because farther removed from civiliza-
ton, they are treacherous, cowardly
and quarrelsome to a degree. But they
are not beggars; they live by the chase
and by plumber. bartering all to
INSCRIPTIONS white traders for rum
and trinkets.
Then there are the Cinema
Patagones, 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 sometimes called Manzeneros.
because their headquarters are at a
place called Las Manzanas {the apples).
where the Jesuits formerly had a
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 of the trees
that the old friars planted. They also
brew an Intoxicating drink from the
beans of the algaroba, which is in
demand all over the country.
or course the term Patagonia" is en-
tirely unknown among the Indians. Their
true name. collectively and individually, is
Tsonecas. and by it all the tribes call
themselves: The word Pata-gones, mean
ing duck.1ooted men,. refers to their pc
cased in boots without soles. or long
gaiters made of guanaco skins with the
beautiful yellowish 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 trifiing circum-
stance obtained the appellation by which
vast territory and all the people who in
habit it, are known to the civilized world.
The "uppers" or CATERS extending loosely
across the top Of the feet, exaggerated in
breadth by the long hair or the edges,
ing paws or '.patas.' When Mageilan's
men first saw these Indians they were
unable to account for the peculiar appear
ance Of their feet. and the bright yellow
fur upon their legs. and called them
''duck-f footed"
The Southern Tsonecas-as yet ] have
seen no others-dress in the rudest FASH
ion. A large. square rug Of guanaco blue
ward) around the body under the arms
and extends about to the knees Another
rug with slit in the middle. through
which to pass the head. falls over the
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 humanity as they look.
qualities. They believe in the immortali-
ty of the soul. Did you ever notice that
the character OF man, whether his skin
be black. white. red. brown or yellow.
of god he worships or rather by the at
tributes with 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
revengeful being who intends to torment
any of his creatures His name is Coche.
and he is of very tender. loving and for ,
eyGE II haonv he Il Hr
yond the farthest rim Of hills. where he
has prepared all good things necessary to
their happiness. The good things" mean
a supply of food and furs, unlimifed wines
Tof Which beverage they are inordinately
fond and purchase immense Quantities of
poor claret from the Chileans). no storms
nor darkness. and above all no more cold
weather. on the latter point the mission |
aries who go among them are Obliged to |
be extremely careful To their Antarctic !
the old-time he'll Of actual !
rife that we used to hear about presents
far more attractions than the orthodox !
en.-Correspondence in Salt Lake |
City Desert News.