WHOLE VOL. ARAUCANIAN CHILD LIFE — HILGER 63 



it. The families of the two men eat this one together. Months later 

 the man who feasted his friend slaughters one of his lambs or sheep 

 and takes it and his family to his friend's ruka. Here he presents this 

 friend with the slaughtered animal. His friend accepts the animal but 

 slaughters one of his own sheep or lambs and with it feasts the man 

 and the man's family. I remember my brother giving a konchotun for 

 his friend about lo years ago. A woman can treat a woman friend 

 or a man whom she holds in high esteem in the same manner ; or a 

 man may treat in the same manner a woman whom he greatly respects. 

 Always the families on both sides are included in the eating. All this 

 is done with deep respect, and with no lewdness." The informant, 

 ready to leave for home, slightly amused, said to me, "You bring me 

 a gift tomorrow, and then I will make a mechatun for you. There has 

 been no mechatun in this area for some years ; it costs too much to 

 give one." If a konchotun is performed these days it is nearly always 

 an expression of friendship between two families or between a group 

 of families in one area and a similar group from another area, rather 

 than between two unmarried men, and always it is carried out at 

 the qillatun. 



COURTESY, HOSPITALITY, HELPFULNESS 



Courtesy is a characteristic of present-day Araucanians, and, accord- 

 ing to the oldest informants, it always has been. It is extended to 

 members of the immediate and the extended families, to friends, 

 neighbors, acquaintances, and strangers. Courtesies taught to children 

 were observed among adults everywhere. To interrupt a speaker, for 

 example, is bad manners. So is walking in front of anyone. "Only 

 someone who has no intelligence will do either. Small children know 

 enough not to do them." In some forms, courtesies must follow con- 

 ventions. Two persons passing each other on foot some distance apart 

 or on horseback call "Mari mari !" (hello) to each other: the younger 

 person must do so first, if there is much difference in ages. When 

 meeting any place, face to face, everyone shakes hands — men, women, 

 and children. A mother will take the hand of the baby in her arms 

 and present it to everyone. "Whatever else you forget," said the 

 Araucanian who instructed me in making contacts, "do not forget to 

 shake hands on every occasion with every Mapuche; that is all- 

 important." The interpreter added, "That puts you on a level with 

 the Mapuche — they feel equal to all other human beings, and they are 

 sensitive about this equality." 



The reception given to visitors is somewhat formalized, also. In 

 general, when a visitor approaches a ruka, someone will emerge and 



