I am not certain that these special customs
of theirs are not practised by them rather as
sporting diversions than in malice of hostility,
or with the motive of plunder. Perhaps they
regard their pursuit in adopting the stratagem
as a kind of chase after a human animal quite
as cunning as themselves. Two circumstances
seem to point to this conclusion:—the one,
that they do no personal injury, and only take
what, even to them, must be almost valueless;
and the other, that, in consequence of
the disappearance of all kinds of animals from
their usual hunting-grounds, they are obliged
to seek their sport within the "inhabited" or
settled portions of the Pampas. It is said
that they have destroyed all the animals of
their own districts, by accumulating and
driving in, from far off, all they could see
into a corner between the sea-coast and a
river that discharges itself at that point. This
appeals to me to be rather improbable:
certainly less probable than the supposition that
many of the herds thus perpetually hunted,
have, from time to time, escaped from those
districts, and come into the safer retreats of
the "inhabited" parts.

Even the wildest of the wild among the
Pampas Indians appear to be polite. They
come into the "inhabited" parts for the
purpose of hunting, but they invariably ask
per-mission of the Estancieros. But what cares
the Estanciero for their politeness? He sorely
feels himself on the horns of a dilemma. If
he consent, he is certain they will destroy
some of his herds of tame cattle—he supposes
they will steal a few horses. If he refuse, he
is equally certain they will chase and hunt as
nmch as they please in the remotest part of
his "property," and drive away as many
horses as possible; and, worse than all, in
the case of refusal, it is probable they will set
fire to the grass.

Notwithstanding the many circumstances
that may be fairly urged in extenuation of
the conduct of the worst of them, those called
indiscriminately los Indios ennemigos, who,
however, do not appear to be in reality more
hostile, or rather less friendly, than those
located within the capamentos, it is obvious
that they are rather troublesome neighbours
and frequently very annoying to those who,
by favour of the governmental power, have
usurped the territories which were the only
birthright of the Pampas Indians. The common
complaint is, that they are dangerous to
the ever-advancing settlers. Is it not so
everywhere? Neither settlers nor governments
remember that the danger proceeds from
themselves, and is the natural consequence of
their ever-advancing settlements claiming the
dispossessions of the persecuted.

It is commonly reported throughout those
regions that the Government have resolved
to exterminate them at the first opportunity;
and this in violation of their treaties. It
seems the Pampas Indians, wretches whose
wild existence might exclude them from the
pale of politics, are dreaded as an irregular
political power by the powerful Government,
because revolutions are frequent in South
America; and it is alleged that, at such periods,
the Pampas Indians aid them, indirectly, by
pillaging and murdering where they can. If
the declared pretext be founded on ascertained
facts, which I think is by no means evident,
may not such conduct be the result, in some
degree, of the boasted intention of the Government
to exterminate them at the first opportunity?
It is probable that most of the
Pampas Indians are acquainted with the
intention thus indiscreetly divulged. And,
if so, what other conduct can reasonably be
expected? After the revolutions that occurred
in the south of the province of Buenos
Ayres about the end of 1839, during which it
was alleged the Indians committed devastations
most extensively, the celebrated Governor
Rosas gave orders to the Colonel-Commandant
of the town of Tandil, then the frontier town,
to the effect that, after the country should
have resumed a little more of its natural
aspect, and all parties should have become
lulled into comparative security, he was to
wreak a signal "vengeance," as it was called,
on the Indians. Let us see how well and
faithfully the gallant Colonel executed the
noble purpose of the famous Governor Rosas.

The chief toldeira, or dwelling-huts of the
Indians, at that time, was situate about twenty
miles south of Tandil, on the margin of a
small river, on the farther side of a chain of
mountains. Not less than three thousand
native men, women, and children, dwelt there.
The colonel vigilantly watched for an
opportunity, and the garrison was always in
readiness. But the Indians appeared to be equally
vigilant. At every evening inspection of the
corps of cavalry at Tandil, about nine
hundred men, heavily armed, emissaries of the
Indians, attended, charged with the duty of
watching every movement of the soldiers,
until the horses were led away for the night.
Never was duty more strictly discharged.

The old colonel could not longer remain
inactive, and resolved to attempt a night
surprise. He knew of the presence of
emissaries at every inspection, and observed the
confidence with which they usually departed
after the release of the horses. On the 13th
of March, 1840, the inspection passed off as
usual; the emissaries attended; the horses
were released; and the Indians departed.
Arrived at the toldeira, their report was
satisfactory. In the full confidence of security,
all reposed. Meanwhile the colonel ordered
his horses, saddled and mounted. Dividing
his corps into three columns, they commenced
their fatiguing and dangerous march at night
through the Pampas, towards the toldeira of
the Indians, which the three columns of
cavalry reached at day-break. No sentry or
outpost was there to alarm the encampment.
All within lay in the deepest repose.

The issue, in all its revolting horrors, may