WHOLE VOL. ARAUCANIAN CHILD LIFE — HILGER 3I 



ATYPICAL CONDITIONS 



MULTIPLE BIRTHS 



Twins are born occasionally in Alepue, Panguipulli, and Cofiaripe 

 areas; none were known to have been born in Boroa area and its 

 neighboring area of Lican, In Alepue area three pairs were born 

 between 1934 and 1936. 



According to Cooper's source, one of twins was either drowned or 

 suffocated with mud (1946, p. 733). I doubt that the killing of one 

 twin was institutional, at least not for Alepue and Panguipulli areas. 

 Both Araucanians and non-Araucanians (herbalists and missionaries) 

 in these areas had not heard of it as a custom. In Cofiaripe area it 

 is being done today. "A year ago, there were two such instances. I 

 was never present when one was killed, but I have been told by those 

 who were that the second-born is throttled to death." 



Those present at the birth of twins are frightened. Parents are 

 ashamed of twins — the reason was not ascertained. "Two years ago 

 a family [Alepue] had twins; everybody talked about them. When 

 one died, the family was relieved. The other died about two weeks 

 ago." Twins were reared in their home like other children. They were 

 not credited with extraordinary power. No informant had heard of 

 multiple births, other than twins, among Araucanians. 



INCEST, ILLEGITIMACY 



Incest is considered a disgrace. No instance of it between brother 

 and sister having the same mother was known ; one between a man and 

 his half-sister was spoken of — both man and woman had the same 

 father, but the mother of each was one of the multiple wives of the 

 father ; the mothers were sisters. "That was in my own relationship. 

 The two were much talked about, and much talked to. They finally 

 separated. Later both married other persons, and they are still mar- 

 ried to them." 



No case of incest between mother and son had ever been heard of ; 

 several between father and daughter were known. "But that too was 

 a very rare thing among the Mapuche. It is a great disgrace." The 

 informant then related, in subdued tones, two instances in which he 

 knew a Chilean man was father of his (the Chilean's) daughter's 

 child. "A great disgrace !" he again added, and then denounced an 

 Araucanian widower whose daughter ran away from home so as not 

 to have to live as wife with her father. 



In some areas it is not uncommon for a child to be born out of 

 wedlock; in others, it is a rare event. Quoting an Araucanian from 



