of extraordinary size in the inland parts of the country, called Cacahues,[261] who are in amity with the Chonos, and sometimes accompany them to the Spanish settlements in Chiloe.  Frezier says, that he has been credibly informed by eye-witnesses, that some of these were about nine or ten feet high.  I had sight of two of these Indians, who came from the southward of St Domingo river, one of whom was a cacique, who did not seem to me to differ in their persons from the ordinary natives of Chiloe.  They were decently clothed in ponchos, monteras, and poulains.  The poncho is a sort of square carpet, having a slit or hole cut in the middle, wide enough to slip over the head, so that it hangs down over the shoulders, half before and half behind, under which they generally wear a short doublet.  On their heads they have a montera, or cap nearly like those of our postillions, and their legs are covered by the poulains, a kind of knit buskins, or hose without feet.  In short, their appearance has little or none of the savage.  Their habitations are firmly built of planks, but have no chimneys, so that they are very black and sooty within.

[Footnote 261:  See an account of the native tribes, inhabiting the southern extremity of South America, vol.  V. p. 401.]

They inclose some of their land for cultivation, by means of rails or paling; and although they have plenty of every thing necessary to a comfortable subsistence, they have no bread, from wanting mills in which to grind and prepare their wheat They use a miserable substitute, making a kind of cakes of sea-weeds, which from use is much esteemed by them, and was not even disliked by some of our men.  Besides this, they prepare their maize in several manners to answer the purpose of bread, and they use potatoes and other roots with the same intention.  They prepare a liquor called chicha from their Indian corn, in imitation of their neighbours on the continent of Chili; but the Spaniards endeavor to curb their propensity to the use of this liquor, as their drinking bouts have often occasioned seditions and revolts.  Such of the natives as have no European weapons, use pikes, darts, and other arms of the country.  Among these is a running noose on a long leathern thong, called a lays, which they use with surprising dexterity for catching cattle, horses, or other animals, even when at full career.  From all that I could see of the natives of Chiloe, or hear respecting the Chilese, they seem to resemble each other in all things, which is not wonderful, considering the near neighbourhood of this island to the continent of Chili.  They use small drums, the heads of which are made of goats skins with the hair on, and give a very dull sound.