94 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL, 1 33 



head end of an ox horn and plugging the narrower end with a wooden 

 stopper. The measure is still used in Chilean stores in the Araucanian 

 country. Today, also, the Chilean almud (0.8 liter, dry measure) is 

 used — a box is the measuring implement. A man may be paid in 

 almuds of wheat for cutting grain. No Araucanian measure of weight 

 was known to informants. 



Distances today, as formerly, are measured by time consumed in 

 covering them on horseback. Riding is done in daytime; at nights, 

 only in case of sickness or a similar urgent reason. Distances are 

 spoken of as " a half day on horseback," "less than a half day," "more 

 than a half day," "a day," "three days," etc. "The distance across 

 Chile from the coast of the Pacific here in Alepue to the Argentine 

 line, past Villarrica, is three days on horseback by a swift, safe rider," 

 said an Alepue horseman. 



DIVERSIONS 



VISITING AND CONVERSATION, STORIES, SMOKING 



Visiting back and forth is done primarily among relatives. Occa- 

 sionally an entire family sets out with the intention of visting rela- 

 tives ; at other times visiting is concomitant to work, such as harvesting 

 or the building of a ruka. Any person is welcome to drop in en route 

 at the ruka of a relative. Families not related meet at fiestas, where 

 acquaintances are renewed and visiting is done. Within the family 

 itself visiting is done while members wait for meals, during rest peri- 

 ods, or in the evening ; things talked about are the work and the hap- 

 penings of the day ; news is relayed, if any has been heard. 



The Araucanian is a good conversationalist and may become very 

 animated. However, he probably does not converse on all occasions 

 merely to be talking. At fiestas women were seen sitting together for 

 hours, quietly observing what was going on, while the men gathered 

 in groups, generally according to age, smoked, and discussed current 

 topics. In the summer of 1946-47 the principal subjects of conversa- 

 tion were the harvest, which they feared would be insufficient because 

 of unfavorable weather at growing time, and the propaganda that was 

 being spread by Communists in the area that the United States would 

 soon make Chile an American colony. At a fiesta in Alepue area, plans 

 for a program that was to be held in the afternoon, mostly oratory and 

 choike dances, formed one of the chief topics of conversation. At 

 intervals, all during that day, both men and women regaled themselves 

 with chicha from a small keg. Occasionally, one of the men filled a 

 bottle and went about filling cups of those who were thirsty. By the 



