WHOLE VOL. ARAUCANIAN CHILD LIFE — HILGER 6$ 



older children, too — who came to the mission to obtain medicines 

 never neglected to inquire about the Sisters' household before telling 

 their needs, no matter how sick the person for whom the medicines 

 requested was. 



A son-in-law, upon the arrival at the ruka of his father-in-law, 

 shakes hands with everyone and then carries on a koyaqtun with his 

 father-in-law ; that is a long discourse, in a rather high-pitched tone, 

 of formalized expressions, which follows a well-established pattern 

 of compliments and of questions regarding the well-being of each 

 other and all persons related to them. A koyaqtun is also conducted 

 when the bride price is paid, and at the qillatun. A boy is formally 

 trained in conducting one. 



A surprise courtesy, called awn, by which persons on horseback 

 ride in a circle around a visitor, is sometimes extended to visitors, 

 even today. An awn is also carried out at a burial (cf. pp. i6o, 163). 

 During a fiesta Araucanian and non-Araucanian women and I strolled 

 across pasture land, chatting and visiting. Five young men and one 

 woman on horseback galloped out to us, circled about us several times 

 shouting, and then galloped back to where the rest of the people were. 

 "That was for you," said the Araucanian women to me. "We are all 

 glad that you and Seiiorita Marguerita are here. This is an old custom 

 we have by which we show our appreciation of visitors." 



Araucanians are hospitable toward one another and toward stran- 

 gers. Cooper notes that generous hospitality was a well-recognized 

 avenue to status (1946, pp. 729, 727). In nearly every ruka visited 

 during the present study, the field assistant, the interpreter, and I were 

 offered food and/or yerba mate. Apparently a non-Araucanian may 

 decline both without offending; an Araucanian cannot, for the one 

 making the offer is hurt thereby. According to Cooper's informants 

 a guest was expected to eat all food set before him (1946, p. 729). 

 When it became known that we declined eating with the family be- 

 cause we had carried a lunch, we were usually given food to take home 

 with us, generally eggs, or fresh vegetables from the family garden. 

 On one occasion, after a brief visit with a woman in her yard, she 

 entered her ruka and emerged with a handful of wheat. She scattered 

 this at her feet and invited the chickens to eat it. Three young hens 

 came, and she grabbed the largest one and handed it to us, saying she 

 wanted us to have it. Persons overtaken by darkness or rain are 

 always welcome in a ruka and are invited to spend the night there. 



Willingness to help is another characteristic of the Araucanians. 

 Neighbors — these are nearly always relatives — can always be relied on 

 for assistance when needed. Even those very distantly related have 



