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

18 - PATAGONiAN INDIANS. Jan. 1827- much persuasion, assented. At first they objected to their companions embarking with us, unless we left hostages for their safety ; but as this was refused, they did not press the point, and the three young men embarked. 1 hey went on board singing ; in high glee. While the ship was getting under way, I went ashore to a larger number of Indians who were waiting on the beach. When my boat landed they were mounted, and collected in one place. I was surprised to hear the woman accost me in Spa- nish, of which, however, she knew but a few words. Having presented medals to each of the party, they dismounted (except- ing the elders), and in a few minutes became quite familiar. By this time Captain Stokes had landed, with several of his officers, who increased our party to nearly double the number of theirs : notwithstanding which they evinced neither fear nor uneasiness. The woman, whose name was Maria, wished to be very communicative ; she told me that the man was her hus- band, and that she had five children. One of the young men, whom we afterwards found to be a son of Maria, who was a principal person of the tribe, was mounted upon a very fine horse, well groomed, and equipped with a bridle and saddle that would have done credit to a respectable horseman of Buenos Ayres or Monte Video. The young man wore lieavy brass spurs, like those of the Guachos of Buenos Ayres. The juvenile and feminine appearance of this youth made us think he was Maria's daughter, nor was it until a subsequent visit that our mistake was discovered. The absence of whiskers and beard gives all the younger men a very effeminate look, and many can- not be distinguished, in appearance, from the women, but by the mode in which they wrap their mantles around them, and by their hair, which is turned up and confined by a fillet of worsted yarn. The women cross their mantle over the breast like a shawl, and fasten it together with two iron pins or skewers, round which are twisted strings of beads and other ornaments. They also wear their hair divided, and gathered into long- tresses or tails, which hang one before each ear ; and those who have short hair, wear false tails made of horse-hair. Under