The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-04-21
If Patagonians, not including the Arau.

about Punta Arenas and the country
between here and Santa Cruz are the
southern Tehueloches. The ''Giants, >
if there ever were any Patagonians de-
serving the name, were found among
this tribe who are much taller and more
slender than any of their neighbors and
have different complexion, being red
like the North American Indians, rath.
er than muddy-brown, like the South
Americans. They are excessively dirty,
lazy and treacherous, fond of personal
adornment made out of bones, shells,
beads and silver gold, strangely enough,
they not do like, and they are ready at
any time to barter all their earthly pos
sessions-wives, horses, even the few
garments that cover their nakednesS-
for little ''fire-water." The ''Pampas
Patagones,' so-called because they in
habit 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, :"
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
Their removed from civilization, they
are treacherous, cowaIdly and quarrel
some to 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 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 erratic. They are some
times called Manzaneros, because their
headquarters are at place called LAS
ManZanas" (the apples, where the Jes-
uits formerly had a mission and planted
a 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 Tsonecas, and by it all the
tribes call themselves. The word Pata.
cones, meaning duck footed men," re-
fers to their peculiar foot-gear The
lower limbs are encased in boots with
out soles, or long CATERS, made of
guanaco skins with the beautiful vel
iowish fur turned outward. The leg
is covered all around from below the
knee, the fur passing over the top of
the foot around the heel. leaving the
toes sticking out. This trifing circum-
stance obtained the appellation by
which vast territory and all the peo-
pie who inhabit it are known to the
civilized world. The ''uppers" or the
CATERS, 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 Magellans 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 yet have
seen no others-dreSS in the rudest
fashion. a large square rug of guaDaco
hide, sewed together, is fastened fur
side outward, 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 shoulders. The long,
stiff, unkempt hair is partially held i'll
ny otllpo VI ClOUll, WIN thlC VI VCl
large enough to form kind of cap or
turban. Low down in the scale of hui
mainly as they look it appears that they
have redeeming qualities. For instance,
they will not practice polygamy like
most Indians, and they believe in the
Immortality of the soul. Did you ever
notice that the character of man,
whether his skin be black, white, red,
brown or yellow, can be pretty accur-
ately 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
being who intends to torment any of
his creatures. His name is Coche, and
he is of a very tender, loving and for
giving disposition. He is waiting for
his children in happy hunting grounds
beyond the farthest rim of hills, where
he has prepared all good things neces-
sary to their happiness, The good
things" mean plentiful supply of food
and furs, unlimited wines (of which
beverage they are inodinately fond
L