102 CHILE - MISCELLANEOUS 



These prices, however, are for farms more or less cultivated; land not 

 yet cleared, such as is found in the southern region, can onty command 

 much lower prices. 



The sale of landed property is effected generally by the payment of 

 a portion (I/3 or ^) in cash ; for the remainder, the seller takes a mortgage 

 on the laud with interest at 8 % . 



Purchase and sale of rural land is frequent, particularly in periods of 

 national prosperity. But in all this, there is Uttle part taken by the great 

 mass of the labouring population, who generally feel no desire to rise or 

 to attain to the position of landowners. 



4. Native Landed Property. — We cannot pass over unmentioned a form 

 of rural property- which presents special characteristics ; we refer to the land 

 held by the aboriginal Araucanians in a territor}^ south of the river 

 Bio-Bio. 



According to the census of 1907, there were about 100,000 descendants 

 of the ancient Araucanians, a warlike people whom the Spaniards found 

 difficulty in subjugating and the Chilian government ouly subdued after 

 som.e severe fighting. Its dominion once firmly estabUshed, the State has 

 provided for their gradual civilisation through pacific relations with the 

 other inhabitants, cultivation of the soil and the possession of their own 

 land. 



To this end, the Government has made laws in their favour, one of 

 which empowers a special Commission {Commission radicadora de indi- 

 i^enos) to grant to every father of an aboriginal family a piece of land 

 (about 10-12 hectares), on condition that he five there at least for one 

 year. He receives a title deed, but is forbidden to part with the land. 



As these aborigines formerly possessed a great part of these lands in 

 common (we do not speak of proprietorship, because there was no legal 

 system) the law has estabHshed that they may be subdivided, consideration 

 being taken, however, of the existing conditions. 



This work is carried out very slowly. In fact, although the funda- 

 mental law was passed many years ago (December 4th., 1866) a great part 

 of the aboriginal property does not legally belong to the occupiers. Much 

 inconvenience in consequence arises, chiefly that, the ownership of the 

 holder of a property not being recognised definitely and legally, it is 

 not inalienable and not a few of the aborigenes have fallen victims to 

 astute speculators. 



The eft'orts to increase the number of small holdings by giving them 

 to aborigines did not produce encouraging results, no doubt through the 

 aversion of the indios from labour, their half wild state, their isolated 

 life, and their resistance, often invincible, to civilisation. As already 

 said (§ i), the aborigines, now reduced to a small number, are destined 

 to disappear altogether. 



