Through the heart of Patagonia . timeover the high cliffs of the cahadon, and the toldos threw lengthenedshadows upon the ground. When we came within a short distance, the Indians steppedforward, finely developed men, of a swarthy brown, with highcheek-bones, their coarse black hair falling round their faces, andtied about the brows with a red band. The tents seemed to befull to overflowing of old women and lean hounds, all huddledtogether upon the ground, and a crowd of curious faces peepedforth. The toldos were made of guanaco-skins, sewn loosely attheir edges, and supported scjuarely on awk
Through the heart of Patagonia . timeover the high cliffs of the cahadon, and the toldos threw lengthenedshadows upon the ground. When we came within a short distance, the Indians steppedforward, finely developed men, of a swarthy brown, with highcheek-bones, their coarse black hair falling round their faces, andtied about the brows with a red band. The tents seemed to befull to overflowing of old women and lean hounds, all huddledtogether upon the ground, and a crowd of curious faces peepedforth. The toldos were made of guanaco-skins, sewn loosely attheir edges, and supported scjuarely on awkward-looking props orposts, forked at the top to admit the ridge-poles. The skins werefastened to the earth outside with wooden pegs. These dwellingsappeared to be anything but weather-proof, for at the seams and THE RIVER VALLEYS 83 lower edges were gaping slits, through which the sky or the groundwas visible. As to the shape of the toidos, if you can imagine avery squat, deep-draught boat, cut off at rather beyond the half of. jft\:V»-s- WATI ! WATI ! (TEHUELCHE EXCLAMATION OF SURPRISE) her length, and turned upside down, you will have some idea oftheir appearance. On the roof, and about the wooden props,pieces of guanaco-nieat had been hung out to dry in the , as I have said, upon the skins which strewed the floor thedoos and o-randmothers of the tribe were mingled. It was our first experience of a Tehuelche encampment, andperhaps the most remarkable feature of it was the presence, in oneform or another, of the guanaco. Some of his flesh was cookingat a fire outside the tents, the toidos themselves were composed ofhis pelts, the ponchos which some of the women were weavingwere made from his wool, tin- boots were formed of his neck-skin,some of the horse-gear uf his hide, the mens capas of his skin,while dogs, men, and women alike were fattened upon the food he 84 THROUGH THE HEART OF PATAGONIA provided. As I stood there, examining all these things, my mindkept run
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbrittenj, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookyear1902
