WHOLE VOL. ARAUCANIAN CHILD LIFE — HILGER 125 



No case of psychosis existed in Panguipulli area while I was there. 

 There was a mildly psychotic woman in Alepue area — a woman with 

 a hyperactive thyroid. "Everybody knows she is queer," remarked the 

 informant. She was the only psychotic person that had come to the 

 attention of a non-Araucanian herbalist, or of whom she had heard 

 it said that he was psychotic, in her lo years in the area. 



The only psychotic person in Cofiaripe area was a middle-aged man. 

 He lived in a ruka close to his aged father's. During an interview 

 with the old man, the psychotic man was exceedingly boisterous in his 

 own ruka. "He is scolding," said the father, "but it makes no sense. 

 For some time past now, he stays in his ruka and does not want to 

 leave it. Formerly, he walked around on the campo. He used to go 

 to the mission to talk nonsense to the Sisters. They listened to him, 

 gave him something to eat, and then brought him home. We bring 

 him food, but for some days now he has refused to eat." The old 

 man had no plans for caring for him beyond keeping him in his ruka 

 and guarding him in case he became dangerous. 



In Boroa area there were four psychotic persons, two women and 

 two men. Quoting a non-Araucanian herbalist : "I have seen all four 

 persons. One man leaves home and wanders about until he is brought 

 back home. The other will not wear any clothing ; he lies nude in his 

 bed on the floor covered with a blanket. When disturbed, he rises 

 abruptly and spins himself on his feet so rapidly that he seems not 

 to touch the ground. I saw him do this. One of the women talks 

 nonsensically and incoherently; the other sits in melancholy fashion 

 and never speaks." 



MARRIAGE 

 POLYGAMY, MONOGAMY 



Until recent years polygynous marriages were customary. In- 

 formants recalled men who had as many as six wives, but the prevail- 

 ing number was two. A man usually married as many women as he 

 knew he could support and for whom he had the bride price. Occa- 

 sionally a man succeeded in getting an additional wife without paying 

 the bride price. Polygynists were usually caciques, the sons of ca- 

 ciques, the machi, and other men of means. A man was known to 

 have married a second wife because his first wife was too old or too 

 lazy to do the necessary work. A man also married successive wives 

 when each one failed to bear him children ; he believed that each of the 

 women was sterile. According to Cooper's sources wealthy or other 

 prominent men had as many as 4 to 10 wives ; an occasional one had 

 18, 20, or even 30. Some men, either from choice or because they were 



