Patagonia Bookshelf
Tierra del Fuego: Of Sailors and Savages (1851—1900)
Contacts between ships and natives groups, as reported in the English-language press
Contacts between ships and natives groups, as reported in the English-language press
NONE [1890]
| Article title | The Picherays | Ship | Ship, , |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source | Star (NZ), 23 April 1890 | Date of event | 1890 |
| More info. | None | Location | Tierra del Fuego (not specific) |
| Article | Transcript | Informant | Unknown |
Abstract: This is a brief summary of the Picheray natives and their way of life. The writer is strongly negative: their physiognomy, intellect and personal hygiene all excite disgust.
Assessment: The term Picheray (and its written variants) has been used to identify the Kaweskar canoe nomads, previously known as the Alakaluf (again, spelling varies). No source is provided for the writer's statements. Emotionally loaded vocabulary is pervasive: "stunted", "superstitious", "disgusting", "brute-like", "stooping", "filth". The presence of head-lice is described in the form of a joke.