PATAGONIA, Land of Magellan, or Teheulia, iii South America, is bounded on the north by the govern ment of La Plata, or iluenos Ayres; on the south by the straits of Magellan ; on the east by the Atlantic Ocean ; and on the west by the South Pacific Ocean, extending from 64° 30' to 74° 30' West Longitude, and from 38" to S. Lat. The boundary has been enlarged nearly 100 miles, and by extending the. line to the Rio Nigro, the passes which prevent the negroes from destroying the cat tle are more easily secured. The frontier includes a tract of country between Colorado and Rio Negro, which is free from the defects of the naked Pampas.
Where the continent narrows, and near very high mountains, the country suffers from occasional snow storms; but we are not entitled to consider it so cold as Norway, since most of the inhabitants go naked. The soil is very various, for to the north of La Plata wood and large timber abound, while to the south scarcely a tree is seen. This part, however, has some good pastures, and numerous herds of cattle and droves of horses are to be met with. The sea-coast is a dry and sandy soil.
The inhabitants may be divided into three different classes, and are called Cassores, Pampas, and Patagons. The first a race of common men, who live on the Ter ra del Fuego side, as low as opposite Cape Horn, and who were probably driven by their enemies to take shel ter in this part. Of the second class, seen by Mr. Carteret, Captain Wallis, and M. Bougainville, &c. the largest measured 6 feet 7 inches ; while the greatest part of the natives were only 5 feet 10 inches, or 6 feet. The third class consists of those who were seen by Commodore Byron, Nit-. Falkner, &c. and whose size is said in many instances to have been from 7 feet 8 inches to 8 feet, and some say 9 or 10 feet. The com mon height was 6 feet, which was also that of the tallest women. This race was scattered from the foot of the Andes to the Atlantic Ocean, and are found as far as the Red River, at Bay Anagada, Lat. 40° ; their colour
is that of deep copper ; their hair as harsh as hogs bristles, tied back with a cotton thread, and their hands as well as feet are small. The eye-lids of the young women are painted black. Many of the men paint their left eye with a red circle, and others their arms, and different parts of their face. They are very ex pert in the use of the sling, with which they entangle the legs of the ostrich and the guanaco, so that the ani mals are easily caught. They are of an agreeable and frequently handsome figure ; and have a round flat face, very fiery eyes, with white and rather large teeth. Some of them wear long but thin whiskers. Their cloak, of guanaco's or sorillo's skins, is tied round the body with a girdle ; and that part which is designed to cover the shoulders is suffered to fall back. The mar row and flesh of horses, guanacos, and vicunnas afford them their chief food ; which is fastened on their horses, and sometimes eaten quite raw, but more generally roasted or boiled. They make a fermenting liquor call ed chucha, which causes inebriation. Their tents are co vered with the hides of mares, and divided from each other by a kind of blanketing. In consequence of their frequent migrations occasioned from want of salt, from the superstitious desire to bury their dead near the ocean, and that they may procure food by the chase, many con sider them to resemble the Tartars.
Their horses are of a diminutive size, but nimble. They use bridles made of a leather thong, with a bit form. ed from wood, and their saddles resemble our pads. No stirrups are used, and both sexes ride in the same man ner, galloping without fear over rugged roads and large loose stones.