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 Indians. He travels right across the Chaco to the Pilcomayo and all through the Bermejo country. As far as possible, the Bolivian government keeps a strict watch in each of the prin- cipal valleys to prevent the Chaco Indians from coming across the frontier into Argentina, for it wishes to keep its labor supply at home. While this is not a very effective means of stopping the drain upon its Indian population, it at least prevents any wholesale movement of the Indians; such as come must use the roundabout trails in the daytime or sneak across the boundary at night. They remain on the sugar estates for what they call a cane season, of several months to half a year, and then go back to their homes. Though their rate of pay is specified, they are actually paid in merchandise. Formerly they were given guns and ammunition but not now for the gov- ernment prohibits the sale of firearms. They are supplied with knives, tobacco, shirts, trousers, brandy, and a horse apiece. They are good workmen after their fashion.

At home the Matacos live in te/derias, or villages, of a few to forty familics. In the interior of the Chaco country the told- erias are larger than those on the frontier, but whenever they are near a white settlement the whites prevent their growth to great size for fear of an attack. The huts of the Indians are of bamboo and grass; they live in them only so long as they stay in a given place, but they travel about a good deal be- tween growing seasons, settling in likely spots that take their fancy. At one of their settlements there will be a small patch of corn, generally near a water hole or spring, and otherwise they depend upon the sale of their cattle for food. They also have a few native vegetables. Almost every tolderia has at least one person who speaks Spanish. They make a strong drink from the bean of the algarrobo and as they obtain the most effective action from this drink only when they chew tobacco, they appreciate a present of tobacco more than any- thing clsc. If a white man looking for labor gives them pres- ents other than tobacco they are not always on hand to return value in labor; but if the present is tobacco they consider its acceptance as a contract for work. In each tribe the chief desires horses and especially a canvas tent in place of a hut.