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[into two or three points, which they call that/, and specify the number by saying, epu thoy-gei tnn en piaxin, “ what I am going to say is divided into tv\o points.” They employ in their oratory several kinds of style, but the most esteemed is the rachidugiin, a word equivalent to academic.
19. /befry.— Their poets are called gempin, lords of speech. This expressive name is well ap]died to them, since, possessing that strong enthusiasm excited by passions undebilitated by the restraints and refinements of civil life, they follow no other rules in their compositions than the impulse of their imaginations. Of course, their poetry generally contains strong and lively images, bold figures, frequent allusions and similitudes, novel and forcible expressions, and possesses the art of moving and interesting the heart by exciting its sensibility. Every thing in it is metaphorical and animated, and allegory is, if we may use the expression, its very soul or essence. The principal subject of the songs of the Araucanians is the exploits of their heroes. Their verses are composed mostly in stanzas of eight or eleven syllables, a measure which appears most agreeable to the human ear. They are blank, but occasionally a rhyme is introduced, according to the taste or caprice of the poet.
20. Medical The Araucanians have three
kinds of physicians, the anipives, the vi/eus, and the machis. The ampixes, a word equivalent to empirics, are the best. They employ in their cures only simples, arc skilful herbalists, and have some very good ideas of the pulse, and the other diagnostics. The vileus correspond to the regular piiysicians. Their principal theory is, that all contagious disorders proceed from insects, an opinion held by many yjhysicians in Europe. For this reason, they generally give to epidemics the name of cut am pirn, that is to sny, vermiculous disorders, or diseases of worms. The machis are a superstitious class, that are to be met with among all the savage nations of both continents. They maintain tliat all serious disorders proceed from witchcraft, and pretend to cure them by supernatural means, for which reason they are employed in desperate cases, when the exertions of the ampixes or the vileus are ineffectual. Their mode of cure is denominated machitun, and consists in the following idle ceremonies, which are always performed in the night. The room of the sick person is lighted with a great number of torches; .and in a corner of it, among several branches of laurel, is placed a large bough of cinnamon, to which is suspended the magical drum ; near it is a sheep ready for sacrifice, The machi directs the women who are pre-
sent to sing with a loud voice a doleful song, accompanied with the sound of some little drums, which they beat at the same time. In the mean while he fumigates three times with tobacco smoke the branch of cinnamon, the sheep, the singers, and the sick person. After this ceremony he kills the sheep, takes out the heart, and after sucking the blood, fixes it upon the branch of cinnamon. He next approaches the patient, and by certain charms pretends to open his belly to discover the poison which has been given him by the pretended sorcerer. He then takes the magical drum, which he beats in concert to a song sung by himself and the women, who follow him round the room in procession ; when, all at once, he falls to the ground like a maniac, making frightful gesticulations and horrible contortions of his body, sometimes wildly opening his eyes, then shutting them, appearing like one possessed of an evil spirit. During this farcical scene, the relations of the sick interrogate the machi upon the cause of the malady. To these questions the fanatical impostor replies in such a manner as he believes best calculated to promote the deception, either by naming, as the cause of the malady, some person of whom he wishes to be revenged, or expressing himself doubtfully as to the success of his incantations. In this manner these diabolical mountebanks become very frequently the cause of horrible murders ; as the relations of the sick, supposing the accusation true, put to death without pity those accused of these practices, and sometimes involve in their revenge the whole family, should they not be strong enough to resist their violence. But these malicious fomenters of discord are careful never to accuse the principal families. The machis, though not invested with the sacerdotal character, like the ph^'sicians of most other savage nations, greatly resemble in their impostures the shamanis of Kamschatka, the woAArs of Africa, and the piachis of Orenoque, whose tricks are accurately described by the Abbe (lili, in his History of the Orinokians. These physicians, notwithstanding the different systems they pursue, sometimes meet to satisfy the solicitude or the vanity of the relations of the sick ; but their consultations, which are called thauman, have generally the same issue as those of the physicians of Europe. They have besides these other kinds of professors of medicine. The first, who may be styled surgeons, are skilful in replacing dislocations, in repairing fractures, and in curing wounds and ulcers : they are calletl gutarve, possess real merit, and often perform wonderful cures. But this is by no means the case with the others, called cupove, from the verb cupon, to ana-]
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[tomize : ' these, infatuated with mnchiism^ dissect bodies in-order to show the entrails, which they say are infected with magic poison. Nevertheless, by means of this practice, they acquire ideas, by no means contemptible, respecting the conformation of the human body, for the different parts of which they have appropriate names. Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the Araucanians made use of bleeding, blistering, clysters, emetics, cathartics, and sudorifics, all which remedies have their peculiar names in their language. They let blood with the sharp point of a flint fixed in a small stick. This instrument they prefer to a lancet, as they think it less liable to fail. Instead of a syringe they make use, like the inhabitants of Kamschatka, of a bladder, to which they apply a pipe. Their emetics, catliartics, and sudorifics, are almost all obtained from the vegetable kingdom.
21. Commerce, — Their internal and exteral commerce is very limited: not having yet introduced among them the use of money, every thing is conducted by means of barter. This is regulated by a kind of conventional tariff, according to which all commercial articles are appraised, under the name
Cullen. Thus a horse or a bridle forms one payment ; an ox two, &c. Their external commerce is carried on with tlie Spaniards, with whom they exchange ponchos and animals for wine, or the merchandize of Europe, and their good faith in contracts of this kind has always been highly applauded. “ The Spaniard,” says Raynal in his history, “ who engages in this trade, applies directly to the heads of families. When he has obtained the necessary permission, he proceeds to all the houses, and distributes indiscriminately his merchandize to all those who present themselves. When he has completed his sale, he gives notice of his departure, and all the purchasers hasten to deliver to him, in the first village he arrives at, the articles agreed upon ; and never has there been an instance of the least failure of punctuality.” We cannot help extracting also the following from the Compendium of the Geographical, Natural, and Civil History of Chile, printed in Bologna, 1776. “ The Spaniards who live in the province of Maule, and near the frontiers of Araucania, carry on a commerce with these people, which consists in supplying them with iron Avare, bits for bridles, cutlery, grain, and wine. This trade is conducteci altogether by the way of barter, as it is not possible to persuade the Araucanians to open the gold mines, nor to produce any of that metal. The returns therefore are in ponchi, or Indian cloaks, of which they receive more than 40,000 an-
nually ; in horned cattle, horses, ostrich feathers, curiously wrought baskets, and other trifles of a similar kind. This commerce, although generally prohibited, is carried on in the Indian country, whither the traders go with their merchandize by bye-roads, and deposit it in the cabins of the natives, to whom they readily trust whatever they wish to sell, certain of being punctually paid at the time agreed upon, which is always the case, these Indians observing the greatest faith in their contracts.”
22. National pride. — The Araucanians, proud
of their valour and unbounded liberty, believe themselves the only people in the world deserving the name of men. From hence it is, that, besides the appellation auca, or free, which they value so highly,they give themselves metaphorically the names of cAe, or the nation ; of recAe, pure or undegenerated nation ; and of huentii, men, a word of similar signification with the vir of the Latins ; and as the latter is the root of the word virtus, so from the former is derived huentugen, which signifies the same thing. From this ridiculous pride proceeds the contempt with which they regard all other nations. To the Spaniards they gave, on their first knowledge of them, the nickname of chiapi, vile soldiers ; from whence proceeded the denomination of chiapeton, by Avhich they are known in South America. They afterwards called them hidnca ; this injurious appellation, Avhich from time and custom has lost its odiousness, comes from the verb huincun, Avhich signifies to assassinate. It is true that in their first battles the Spaniards gave them too much reason for applying to them tliesc opprobrious epithets, Avhich serve to the present time to denote one of that nation. Esteeming themselves fortunate in their barbarity, they call those Indians who live in the Spanish settlements culme-huinca, or wretched Spaniards. To the other Europeans, the English, French, and Itrdians, whom they readily distinguish from each other, they give the name of mamche, which is equiA'alcnt to the term moro, used by the common people of Spain, to denote all strangers indiscriminately. They call each other that is, bro-
thers, and even apply the same name to tiiose born in their country of foreign parents.
23. Kindness towards each other . — The benevolence and kindness Avith which these people treat each other is really surprising. For the word friend^ tliey have six or seven very expressive terms in their language ; among others, that of canap^ Avhich corresponds to the alter ego of the Latins. Those who have the same name call each}
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[other laca^ and those who bear but a part of the name apellaca : these denominations incur an obligation of mutual esteem and aid. Relations by consanguinity are called in general and
those of affinity quillan. Their table of genealogy is more intricate than that of the Europeans ; all the conceivable degrees of relationship being indicated therein by particular names. From the mutual affection which subsists between them, proceeds their solicitude reciprocally to assist each other in their necessities. Not a beggar or an indigent person is to be found throughout the whole Araucanian territory ; even the most infirm and most incapable of subsisting thcm.selves are decently clothed. This benevolence is not, however, confined only to their countrymen : they conduct themselves with the greatest hospitality towards all strangers of Avhatever nation, and a traveller may live in any part of their country without the least ex pence.
24. Mode of salutation, — Their usual expression whenever they meet is marimari ; and when they quit each other, ventempi or venteni. They are rather tiresome in their compliments, which are generally too long, as they take a pride upon such occasions, as well as every other, in making a display of their eloquence. The right hand is among them, as with the Europeans, the most honourable station, contrary to the practice of the Asiatics, w ith whom the left enjoys that privilege. They arc naturally fond of honourable distinction, and there is nothing they can endure with less patience than contempt or inattention. From hence, if a Spaniard speaks to any one of them with his hat on, he immediately says to him in an indignant tone, entugo tami c?irt( sia, “ takeoff yoiir hat.” By attention and courtesy any thing may be obtained from them, and the favours whicli they receive make an indelible impression upon their minds ; Avhile, on the contrary, ill treatment exasperates them to such a degree, that they proceed to ihc greatest excesses to revenge themselves.
25. Proper names. — The names of the Araucanians care composed of the proper name, whicii is generally either an adjective or a numeral, and the family ajjpellation or surname, Avhich is always placed after the pro[)er name, according to the European custom, as Cari-lemu,^ green busli ; Meliantu,^ four suns. Nor is there scarcely a material object which does not furnish them with a discriminative name. From hence, we meet among them with the families of Rivers, Mountains, Stones, Lions, iScc. These families, which are called Cuja or Eipa^ are more or less respected ac-
cording to their rank, or the heroes they have given to their country. The origin of these surnames is unknown, but is certainly of a period much earlier than that of the Spanish conquests.
26. Matrimony. — By the admapu, polygamy is allowed among the Araucanians, whence they marry as many wives as they can furnish with a dower, or more properly purchase, as to obtain them they must give to their fathers a certain amount of property, as has been, and still is, the practice in most countries of both continents. But in their marriages they scrupulously avoid the more immediate degrees of relationship. Celibacy is considered as ignominious. Old bachelors are called by way of contempt vuchiapra, and old maids citdepra, that is, old, idle, good for nothing. Their marriage ceremonies have little formality, or, to speak more accurately, consist in nothing more than in carrying off the bride by pretended violence ; which is considered by them, as by the Negroes of Africa, an essential prerequiste to the nuptials. The husband, in concert with the father, conceals himself with some friends near the place where they know the bride is to pass. As soon as she arrives, she is seized and put on horseback behind the bridegroom, notwithstanding her pretended resistance and her shrieks, which are far from being serious. In this manner she is conducted with much noise to the house of her husband, where her relations are assembled, and where they receive the presents agreed upon, after having partaken of the nuptial entertainment. Of course, the expences of an Araucanian wedding are by no means inconsiderable ; from whence it happens that the rich alone can maintain any considerable number of wives. The poor content themselves Avith one, or two at most. Nor does there arise any inconvenience from the scarcity of Avomen, as the number of females is much greater than that of males, Avhich is, hoAvever doubtful, said to be the case in those countries where polygamy is permitted. The first Avife, Avho is called unendomo, is always respected as the real and legitimate one by all the others, who are called inando7no, or secondary Avives. She has the management of the domestic concerns, and regulates the interior of the house. The husband has much to do to maintain harmony among so many women, who are not a little inclined to jealou.sy ; and each night, at supper, makes known his choice of her who is to have the honour of sharing his bed, by directing her to prepare it. The others sleep in the same room, and no one is permitted to approach them. Strangers, on their arrivaljiare lodged in a cabin entirely separate from]
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[this seraglio. The wives have the greatest respect for their husbands, and generally give him the title of huta^ or great. Besides female occupations, they are obliged to employ themselves in many wliich in civilized countries are considered as the peculiar province of the men, according to the established maxim of all barbarous nations, that the weaker sex are born to labour, and the stronger to make war and to command. Each of them is obliged to present to her husband daily a dish prepared by herself in her separate kitchen or fire-place ; tor this reason the houses of the Araucanians have as many fires as there are women inhabiting them; whence, in inquiring of any one how many wives he has, they make use of the following phrase, as being the most polite, muri onthalgeimiy “ how many fires do you keep.” Each wife is also obliged to furnish her husband yearly, besides his necessary clothing, with one of those cloaks already described, called ponchos, which form one of the principal branches of the Araucanian commerce.
26. Domestic employments . — The greatest attention is paid by the women to the cleanliness of their houses, which they sweep, as well as their courts, several times in the course of a day ; and whenever they make use of any utensil they immediately wash it; their houses being so situated as to be always readily supplied with an abundance of running water. The same attention to cleanliness is paid with regard to their persons : they comb their heads twice a day, and once a week wash them with a soap made from- the bark of the quillai, which keeps the hair very clean, and which is also much used by tlie Spaniards, especially those who live in the country. There is never to be seen a spot of dirt on the clothes of an Araucanian woman. The men are likewise equally fond of cleanliness; they never fail to comb their heads every day, and are also accustonjcd frequently to wash them. Bathing, as among the ancients, is in common use with these peo])le, who think it necessary for the sake of preserving their health and of strengthening their bodies ; and in order to have it convenient, they are careful to j)lace their houses on the banks of rivers. In warm weather they bathe themselves several times a day, and it is rare, even in winter, that they do not batiie themselves at least once a day: by means of tins continued exercise they become excellent swimmers, and give wonderfulproofsof dexterity in this art. They will swim for a great distance under water, and in this manner cross their largest livers, which renders them some of the be.st divers in the world. The women are also fond of fre-
TOL. I.
quent bathing, and for this purpose select the most obscure solitary j)laces, at a great tiistance from the nieu. Even on t!ie very day of the birth of a child, they take the infant to the river and wash it, and also themselves, and within a short time return to their customary avocations, without experiencing any inconvenience ; so true it is, that the human constitution is not naturally delicate, but is rendered so by our customs and living. Child-birth is with them attended with little pain ; which must be attributed to the strength of their constitutions ; for a similar reason, the women of the lower classes in Europe, according to the statement of Doctor Bland, in the Pliilosophical Transactions, experience a more easy delivery than the ladies, and arc less subject to sickness in consequence. Whether directed by an impulse of simple nature, or actuated by their solicitude to furnish strong men to the state, they rear their children in a very different manner from rvhat is practised in civilized countries. When they have washed them in running water, as has been already observed, they neither swathe nor bandage them, but place them in a hanging cradle, called chrgua, lined with soft skins, where they merely cover them with a cloth, and swing them from time to time by means of a cord attached to the cradle, which leaves them more at liberty to attend to their domestic concerns. When their children begin to v/a!k, which is very soon, they neither j)ut them into stays, nor any other confined dress, but keep them loosely clad, and let them go anywhere, and eatwhat they please. Formed thus, as it were, by themselves, they become well shaped and robust, and less subject to those infirmities that arc the consequence of a tender and a delicate education. Indeed, the maladies Avhich prevail among the Araucanians are but few, and are for the most part reducible to inflammatory fevers, originating either from intemperance in drinking, or to the excessiv'e exercise which they sometimes use. If (he phj'sical education of the vVraucanian children is in a certain degree laudable, tiie moral education which they receive will not certainly meet with our entire approbation. It is, nevertheless, conformable to the ideas of that high-minded people respecting the innate liberty of man, and such as may be expected from an uncivilized nation. Their fathers are satisfied in insructing them in the use of arms, and the management of horses, and in teaching them to speak tiieir native language with elegance. In other respects they leave them to do whatever they please, and praise them whenever they see them insolent, saying, that in this manner they learn to become men. It is very unusual for them} 3 H
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[to chastise or correct them, as they hold it as an established truth, that chastisement only renders men base and cowardly.
27. Food , — The usual diet of'the Araucanians is very simple ; their principal subsistence is several kinds of grain and pulse, which they prepare in a variety of different modes. They are particularly fond of maize, or Indian corn, and potatoes; of the last they have cultivated more than SO different kinds from time immemorial, esteeming them a very healthy nutriment. Although they have large and small animals and birds in plenty, yet they eat but liUle flesh, and that is simply boiled or roasted. They have the same abstemiousness in the use of pork, from which they know very well how to prepare black puddings and sausages. Their seas and rivers abound with excellent fish, but they do not much esteem this kind of aliment. Instead of bread, which they are not accustomed to eat, except at their entertainments, they make use of small cakes of maize ,or roasted potatoes with a little salt. Their usual drinks consist of various kinds of beer, and of cider made from Indian corn, from apples, and other fruits of the country. They nevertheless are extremely fond of wine, which they purchase from the Spaniards, but hitherto, either for political reasons, or more probably from carelessness, they have paid no attention to the raising of vines, -n^hich, as has been proved by experiment, produce very well in all their provinces. The master of the house eats at the same table with the rest of his family. The plates are earthen, of their own manufactory, and the spoons and cups are made of horn or wood. The ulmenes have in general wrought plate for the service of their tables, but they only make use of it when they entertain some stranger of rank ; upon such occasions they ostentatiously display it, being naturally fond of show, and of being considered rich. Their seasonings are made of Guinea-pepper, of modi, and salt. In summer they are fond of dining in the shade of trees, which for this purpose are always planted around their houses. They do not use the flint for the purpose of obtaining fire, but employ, like the Kamschatdales, two pieces of dry wood, one of which they place upon another, and turn it in their hands until it takes fire, which is very soon. Besides dinner, supper, and breakfast, they have every day without fail their luncheon, which consists of a little flour of parched corn, steeped in hot water in the morning, and in cold in the evening. But they often deviate from this simple mode of living when at their public entertainments, which they give each other on occasion of funerals, marriages, or any other important
event. At such times no expence is spared, and they are profuse of every thing that can promote festivity. In one of these banquets, at which it is common for 300 persons to be present, more meat, grain, and liquor is consumed, than would be sufficient to support a whole family for two years. It is usual for one of these feasts to continue two or three days : they are called cahu'm^ or circles, from the company seating themselves in a circle around a large branch of cinnamon. Such entertainments are made gratuitously, and any person whatever is permitted to partake of them without the least expence. But this is not the case with the mingacos, or those dinners which they are accustomed to make on occasion of cultivating their land, threshing their grain, building a house, or any other Avork Avhich requires the combined aid of several. At such times all those who wish to partake in the feast, must labour until the work is completed. But as these people have abundant leisure, the labourers collect in such numbers, that in a very few hours the work is finished, and the rest of the day is devoted to feasting and drinking. The Spaniards who live in the country have also adopted a similar plan, availing themselves of the same kind of industry to complete their rural labours. Fermented liquors, in the opinion of the Araucanians, form the principal requisites of an entertainment; for Avhenever they are not in plenty, Avhatever may be the quantity of provisions, they manifest great dissatisfaction, exclaiming go/ingelai, “ it is a wretched feast, there is no drink.” These bacchanalian revels succeed each other almost without ititerruption throughout the year, as every man of property is ambitious of the honour of giving them ; so that it may be said, that the Araucanians, when not engaged in war, pass the greater part of their lives in revelry and amusement.
28. Music and other diversions. — Music, danc• ing, and play, form their customary diversions. As to the first, it scarcely deserves the name ; not so much from the imperfection of the instruments, which are the same they make use of in war, but from their manner of singing, which has something in it harsh and disagreeable to the ear, until one has been accustomed to it for a long time. They have several kinds of dances, which are lively and pleasing, and possess considerable variety. The women are rarely permitted to dance with the. men, but form their companies apart, and dance to the sound of the same instruments. If what the celebrated Leibnitz asserts is true, that men have never dicovered greater talents than in the invention of the different kinds of games, thej