Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.1): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

1829. DKESS HABITS MORALS. 277 They have given up the use of the poncho, and in this parti- cular, they say they are before the gentry at Concepcion, who wear it on all occasions : and probably are quite right, for, with respect to comfort, there is mvich to admire in the poncho, as, of all cloaks, it is the most generally convenient, and the best adapted for protecting the person, especially on horseback, where it is indispensable : its use, however, offers the wearer such an opportunity to neglect the other part of his dress, which it eflectually conceals, that sometimes, beneath the pon- cho, the body is very ill-clothed. The dress of men in tlie lower orders, consists of a pair of trowsers, and a shirt, over which is thrown the all-concealing poncho. The women are as slightly clad ; but instead of a pon- cho, they wear a rebozo, or shawl, which, however, is very often dispensed with, and their persons are left too much exposed. These lower classes, or Indians, as they, with much reason, are termed, are scarcely superior to the uncivilized savages of the southern coasts; and live principally upon shell-fish, with what little they are enabled to procure besides by the sale of a few pigs, or poultry, which they rear on the scanty store of potatoes and wheat, that remains after their new crop comes to maturity. One roof shelters a whole family. Father and mother, sons and daughters, dogs and pigs, all live and sleep in their only room, in the middle of which, a fire is made ; whence the smoke escapes by numerous apertures in the roof and sides of the dwelling. As to their morals, within the precincts of their habitations, I have reason to believe they have not much to boast of, although they are described, by Agiieros and other writers, as most innocent, and well-conducted. Agiieros speaks highly of their character ; and cites Padre Ovalle, who, writing upon Chiloe, between the years 1629 and 1636, says : " The natives of these islands are the most docile and noble (dociles y nobles) of all Chile, and are the least given to drunkenness, and other vices; therefore they are best disposed to be edified by the light of the Gospel." Since the province became subject to the Chilian Repubhc,