The most intelligent and progressive race of aborigines in southern
South America, a tribe that raises to considerable extent the general
low level of life that exists in that section, is the Patagonians.
They live in well-constructed, portable tents, called “toldos,” made
from guanaco skins, fastened to wooden supports by rawhide thongs, and
staked to the ground with pieces of bone. These toldos are so arranged
that they can be easily taken apart and removed as necessity may
require. Their food consists of the meat of the ostrich, guanaco and
deer, all of which abound in the territory inhabited by them.
Physically the Patagonians are a superior race, the average height of
the men being considerably over six feet, and many of them are fully
seven feet tall. They are well proportioned, deep chested and muscular.
They have intelligent faces, regular features, aquiline nose, high
forehead and square chin. Their facial expression is one of amiability
and good nature. The complexion of the men, when their faces are clean
of paint, is a reddish brown; that of the women a healthy, ruddy hue.
The young women are often good-looking, but the severe climate and
their manner of living make them prematurely old and ugly. The men’s
costume consists of a woolen cloth worn next to the body, and a heavy
cloak made of guanaco skins, fastened at the neck and extending to
the ankles. Their high boots, “buskins,” are made from the skin of
the lower part of the hind legs of horses, and worn in the natural
form. These buskins are procured from the wild horses, thousands of
which roam over the pampas of Patagonia. The costume of the women is
practically the same as that worn by the men, except that the clothing
beneath the guanaco cloak is a little more elaborate.
They possess the Indian characteristic fondness for jewelry and
personal adornment. They wear huge silver earrings, the pendants of
which are sometimes eight inches square; they also adorn themselves
with silver necklaces and quantities of beads. A Patagonian Indian six
and a half feet tall, robed in a beautiful guanaco cloak with flowing
folds, and adorned with huge silver ornaments, presents a picturesque
and striking appearance.
The Patagonians differ from most Indian races in their observance of
certain hygienic laws. They sleep upon beds made of guanaco skins, in
tents that are kept fairly clean. Men, women and children indulge in
a cold bath every morning in the year. This practice, in addition to
aiding materially in building up and maintaining the splendid physical
constitutions for which they are noted, enables them to withstand
more easily the rigors of the severe climate. Their occupation is
that of hunting the ostrich, guanaco and other animals indigenous to
the territory. The flesh of the game is used for food, and the skins
converted into robes and rugs, which they market at Punta Arenas, and
for which they receive good prices. They are skillful hunters and the
method they employ in hunting ostriches and guanacos is unique. They
possess firearms, both rifles and revolvers, and are not unskilled in
their use; they also carry swords, daggers and lances, which are used
only when dismounted, and none of which are employed in the chase.
Ostriches and animals are pursued on horseback, the hunter carrying a
“bola,” which on near approach to the object of his pursuit he hurls
with unerring aim, seldom failing to stun and entangle the bird or
beast until it becomes an easy victim to his knife or lance. The bola,
which is peculiar to Patagonia, consists of three round stones, or
metal balls, the size of an orange, covered with rawhide. To each of
these is fastened a plaited rawhide rope six feet in length. The ends
of these ropes are united and fastened to a lasso. The hunter before
casting the bola takes it in one hand and by swinging it rapidly over
his head sends the balls rotating in the air with great velocity. He
then casts it as the vaquero does his lasso. When it strikes, the
revolving balls wrap the thongs tightly about the object of the chase,
entangling it and putting a stop to its flight. The hunter then rides
along by the side of the entrammeled prey and dispatches it. It is an
exciting scene to see a Patagonian mounted upon a fleet pony racing
across the pampa in pursuit of an ostrich. It possesses elements of
sport that are peculiarly attractive to one who is fond of hunting.
These people have no religious creed and do not believe in a personal
God. There is a tradition among them that there is a great good spirit
who created them, but they have no well-defined creed, and religious
feasts are unknown among them. They believe in the sanctity of animals,
but do not worship any of them. They have a superstitious dread of
demons, whom they try to propitiate through the mediation of medicine
men, to whom only the demons are supposed to be visible. Charms and
talismans are worn as a means of warding off evil spirits. They are
ignorant of culture and conventionalities, yet they are not ungrateful
or inhospitable. They never give presents, nor will they receive favors
from others.
One of the queer customs of this peculiar people is that of celebrating
marriages. The bridegroom secures the consent of both his own parents
and those of the bride. The fathers of the young couple then move their
tents near each other. An unsaddled horse is placed in front of each
of the tents, and at a prearranged signal the bride and groom rush
from their respective tents, mount the horses and gallop away on their
wedding trip.