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Strange Customs in Patagonia

OWN in the ex- catch guanacos, and give her plenty of treme southern grease. part of South These overtures being rejected as con- America lives a temptuously as the last, the suitor adsingular peo- dressed himself to the lady, who was very ple, the Pata- willing to accept him, and entirely yielded gonians. They when he repeatedly promised to bring are a large fine home plenty of grease for her. She then race of men and besought her father to listen to the women, but suitor's application, but was angrily revery peculiar in their fused. Her mother then tried to pacify habits and customs. the angry father, saying that the young How marriage is con- man might fulfil his promises, catch ducted among them is plenty of horses, and become a great described by Captain chief.

Bourne, who was kept a prisoner for a This was too much for the old man. considerable time. It appeared that in He jumped up in a towering passion, the house of the chief to whom he be- seized the cradle in which his little grandlonged there was a daughter-a widow, child was lying, flung it out of the hut, with a young child. One evening, the snatched up every article which his tramp of many feet was heard on the out- daughter possessed, threw them after the side of the hut, together with the mutter- cradle, and then ordered her to follow her ings of voices. Presently, one voice was goods. This was exactly what she wanted; heard louder than the rest, evidently ad- so, accompanied by her mother, she left dressed to some one within the hut. It the hut, and was joined by her intended was the voice of a suitor come to ask the husband. hand of the young widow.

The same traveller gives a very amusing The chief scornfully refused the offer, account of a visit paid by a Patagonian saying that he was not worthy to be her physician to the hut of a chief. The husband, having no horses or other prop- party were just preparing to shift their erty. The man admitted that at the quarters, after the Patagonian fashion, present time he did not happen to have when one of the daughters came in, any horses, but that he was a remarkably carrying a child who was crying loudly, good thief, and that, if the lady would and who was supposed in consequence to only accept him, he would steal horses, be very ill. The journey was stopped, and a messenger despatched for the wise child, who presently ceased crying. Enman, who soon came, and brought with couraged by this success, the wise man him his magic medicines, rolled up in two ordered a clay plaster to be applied. This A