AMERICAN INDIANS

2 The basic population of Chile is composed of native Indians and Spanish Creoles. The Chilean men are in general excellent horsemen, robust and adroit, used to taming wild horses. Their bridles are made of simple strips of leather and their saddles are merely a piece of skin or material. Riding without stirrups, they spur their mounts on over the steepest ground.
    The entire Chilean population wear the short cloak or poncho, the national costume. This is worn by both men and women, and by those who adhere to local custom as well as by those who follow European fashion.
    The costume in 2.2 comes from Santiago, the capital of Chile, while the costumes in 2.1, 4 & 5 are more rustic and tend to be worn by the native Indians.
    The poncho is a dalmatic without sleeves, reminiscent of the Roman tunic. It is a quadrangular piece of material, loft long by 6ft wide, with an opening for the head. The poncho covers the head and the top part of the body, but does not descend lower than the knees and often stops higher than that.
    The most highly valued Ponchos are those from Arauca. These are made from the finest wool and chamois from the Andes. A poncho of this type takes nearly two years to make and is very expensive. The Chileans favourite colour for ponchos is turquoise-blue, but they may be also dyed yellow, green or red; they are often decorated with bands, sometimes patterned with delicate designs and figures.
    The woman's poncho is a smaller version of the man's; women turn the basic poncho into an elegant garment, sewing and decorating it with exquisite care.