essay

Description of Patagonia

Coleccion de obras y documentos relativos a la historia antiqua y moderna de las provincias del Rio de la Plata, edited by Pedro De Angelis6 • Published In 1837 • Pages: HRAF ms: 1-17 [Original: 63-81 ]

By: De Viedma, Antonio, Muirden, Sydney J..

Abstract
De Viedma was a colonial administrator who established a colony in this area in the eighteenth century. In addition to describing the area, the source gives considerable data on the Tehuelche, covering such things as warfare, religion, chieftainship, hunting technique and material culture. The document is valuable because it is a first hand account compiled before much acculturation had taken place.
Subjects
Topography and geology
Fauna
Flora
Descriptive somatology
Hunting and trapping
Fishing
Diet
Condiments
Work in skins
Normal garb
Personal grooming
Water supply
Lumbering
Paint and dye manufacture
Weapons
Utensils
Division of labor by gender
Travel
Routes
Animal transport
Postures
Decorative art
Oratory
Status, role, and prestige
Accumulation of wealth
Gender status
Mode of marriage
Arranging a marriage
Polygamy
Community heads
Tribe and nation
External relations
Instigation of war
Aftermath of combat
Theory of disease
Magical and mental therapy
Shamans and psychotherapists
Life and death
General character of religion
Spirits and gods
Sacred objects and places
Prayers and sacrifices
Magic
General sex restrictions
Premarital sex relations
Extramarital sex relations
Infant care
Status and treatment of the aged
culture
Tehuelche
HRAF PubDate
2000
Region
South America
Sub Region
Southern South America
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Colonial Administrator
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
James Leary ; 1958
Field Date
1780-1784
Coverage Date
1780-1784
Coverage Place
Argentina
Notes
by Antonio De Viedma
Translation of: [descripcion de la costa meridional del sur llamada vulgarmente Patagonica]
Translated from the Spanish for HRAF by Mr. Sydney J. Muirden in 1958
LCSH
Tehuelche Indians