Physically the Patagonians are a superior race, the average height of
the men being considerably over six feet, and many of them are fully
seven feet tall. They are well proportioned, deep chested and muscular.
They have intelligent faces, regular features, aquiline nose, high
forehead and square chin. Their facial expression is one of amiability
and good nature. The complexion of the men, when their faces are clean
of paint, is a reddish brown; that of the women a healthy, ruddy hue.
The young women are often good-looking, but the severe climate and
their manner of living make them prematurely old and ugly. The men’s
costume consists of a woolen cloth worn next to the body, and a heavy
cloak made of guanaco skins, fastened at the neck and extending to
the ankles. Their high boots, “buskins,” are made from the skin of
the lower part of the hind legs of horses, and worn in the natural
form. These buskins are procured from the wild horses, thousands of
which roam over the pampas of Patagonia. The costume of the women is
practically the same as that worn by the men, except that the clothing
beneath the guanaco cloak is a little more elaborate.
They possess the Indian characteristic fondness for jewelry and
personal adornment. They wear huge silver earrings, the pendants of
which are sometimes eight inches square; they also adorn themselves
with silver necklaces and quantities of beads. A Patagonian Indian six
and a half feet tall, robed in a beautiful guanaco cloak with flowing
folds, and adorned with huge silver ornaments, presents a picturesque
and striking appearance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account