!..
9
muscular forms, and length of body, in some measure bear
out the above accounts; for had the present generation proportionate
limbs, they might, without any exaggeration, justify
the account of Commodore Byron. The Jesuit Missionary
Falkner,* who, from an intercourse of forty years with the
Indians of South America, must be considered as one of the
best authorities, says, speaking of a Patagonian named Canga-
pol, “ This chief, who was called by the Spaniards the Cacique
Bravo,f was tall and well-proportioned; he must have been
seven feet and some inches in height, because on tiptoe I could
not reach the top of his head: I was very well acquainted
with him, and went some journeys in his company: I do not
recollect ever to have seen an Indian that was above an inch
or two taller than Cangapol. His brother Sausimian was but
about six feet high. The Patagonians or Puelches are a largebodied
people ; but I never heard of that gigantic race which
others have mentioned, though I have seen persons of all the
different tribes of the Southern Indians.”
This is an account in 1746, only twenty years before that of
Bougainville. Taking all the evidence together, it may be considered,
that the medium height of the males of these southern
tribes is about five feet eleven inches. The women are not so tall,
but are in proportion broader and stouter : they are generally
plain-featured. The head is long, broad and flat, and the
forehead low, with the hair growing within an inch of the eyebrows,
which are hare. The eyes ai-e often placed obliquely,
and have but little expression, the nose is generally rather flat,
and turned up; but we noticed several with that feature
• F alkner, according to Dean Fan e s, was originally engaged in the
slave trade at B uenos Ayres ; but afterwards became a Jesuit, and studied
in the college a t Cordova, where, to an eminent knowledge of medicine,
he added th a t of theology. He is the author of a description of P a ta gonia,
published in London after the expulsion of the Jesu its.-(A '« so 2,o
de la Historia Civil del Paraguay, Buenos Ayres, y Tucuman, por el
Doctor Don Gregorio Funes, Hi. p . 23, note. PuUished at Buenos A yres.
8to. 1817.)
t See Dean F unes’s account of Buenos A yres, and of the Indian tribes,
vol. ii. 394.
straight, and sometimes aquiline : the mouth is wide, with
prominent lips, and the chin is rather large ; the jaws ai'e
broad, and give the face a square appearance; the neck is
short and thick ; the shoulders are broad; the chest is broad,
and very fu ll; but the arm, particularly the fore-arm, is small,
as are also the foot and leg ; the body long, large and fat, but
not corpulent. Such was the appearance of those who came
under my observation.
As to their character, the Patagonians are friendly, without
that disposition to quarrel, after the novelty of first acquaintance
has worn off, which is so common among savages in general.
This probably arises from interested motives, certainly not from
fear, unless it be the fear of being avoided instead of visited
by the ships which pass by, and from which they procure
many useful articles, and many temporary gratifications.
Swords, long knives, tobacco, Paraguay tea, bits, saddles,
guns, lead for balls, red cloth, beads (particularly of a sky-
blue colour), flour, sugar, and spirits, are much desired in
exchange for their peltry and guanaco meat; but they have
no idea beyond that of satisfying the wants of the moment.
After a few pounds of tobacco had been distributed amongst
them, although they are very fond of smoking, it became quite
a drug, and it was necessary to produce something new to excite
their attention. From Maria’s influence, and the reference
so constantly made to her, it would seem that she was considered
as cacique of the tribe; but her apparent superiority
may arise from her connexion with Bysante, of whom they all
spoke as ‘ El Cacique Grande,’ or from the attention paid to
her by ships with whom they communicate.
The people of this tribe seemed to live together harmoniously;
no bickerings or jealous feelings were observed, and certainly
none were expressed by any one of our bulky friends on
witnessing another receiving a valuable present, or a good
exchange for his property.
At sunset our people were ordered to embark, upon which
the price of Patagonian goods immediately fell, at least, a
thousand per cent., though many held back in expectation of
- 4 l