Oscar Escalada

Manchai Puito (Two Little Doves)

Manchai Puito ( Two Little Doves) is a quichua (Indian) folksong from the rural part of Argentina near the Andes mountains. It is somewhat like the gaucho folksongs. The gauchos were of mixed Spanish and Indian heritage. They worked as cattle herders and are still celebrated by stories and songs because they were the heroes of the Pampas, the grassy plains around Buenos Aires. Gauchos were very honest and independent men. Like the cowboys of North America, a gaucho would sing to keep himself company as he worked alone on the plains. He would wear a fringed poncho, bombachas (baggy pants), a belt ornamented with silver coins, leather boots, and spurs.