Narrative of the surveying voyages of his majesty's ships Adventure and Beagle (vol.2): between the years 1826 and 1836 : describing their examination of the southern shores of South America, and the Beagles's circumnavigation of the globe

150 FOOD — CHASE. of the men, and additional clothes, are worn when they ridfe distances ; sitting astride, upon a heap of skins, which serve at niorht for beddinof. The principal subsistence of these Indians is the flesh of mares, ostriches, cavies, or guanacoes ; but though they are not pai-ticular, and eat almost anything that they catch, the flesh of young mares is preferred to any otiier. They broil their meat, and eat it with a lump of fat, and salt. The fat of mares and that of ostriches are boiled together and put into/bladders but the fat of guanacoes is eaten raw, being preferred in that state. There are two roots which they eat, one called tus, the other chalas. The tus is a bulbous root, growing wild, which when cleaned and baked, or rather roasted, becomes mealy, like a yam. They use it sometimes Avith their meat, but not often. The chalas is a long, white root, about the size of a goose-quill. It is either roasted in the embers or put into broth, which they make for women and sick people. When on the sea-coast, limpets and muscles are gathered by the women and children ; but fish or seals are seldom obtained. Dogs are not eaten, neither are horses, unless disabled by an accident. Cattle are yet scarce in the southern regions, because pasture- land is rather deficient ; but about the lately-discovered river, Chupat, (lat. 43,21. S.) which, though small, is supposed to cross the continent, they are rather numerous, but their flesh is not thought equal to that of mares. The only prepared drink which they use, besides the decoc- tion of chalas, is the juice of barberries, mixed with water, and drank in its natural state. They have no fermented liquor. Hunting is both amusing and necessary to the men. They go out to the chase in parties, more or less numerous, accord- ing to the strength of the tribe, the scarcity of food, and the supply of horses. An extent of country is enclosed by the horsemen ; then drawing together, they drive before them all the animals ; till, when tolerably collected together, the cacique, or leading man of the party rides at an animal and throws it down mth his balls. All then set to work, and ball away in every direction. They do not stop because one animal falls, i