WHOLE VOL. ARAUCANIAN CHILD LIFE — HILGER 127 



had her own. A Boroa cacique's three wives lived in one long ruka 

 and each had her own fireplace. In another Boroa ruka each of two 

 wives occupied one-half of a long ruka, but used a common fireplace 

 which was located in the middle of the ruka. Ruka were not divided 

 by partitions — ^the fireplace was the dividing line. 



Wives shared the household duties to a large extent, with considera- 

 tion being shown to the one first married. It was she who acted as 

 head wife, making all household arrangements and giving orders to 

 the other wives. She had priority over them all in all things. In case 

 of an argument, the younger ones were expected to keep still. "My 

 grandfather used to say that his second and third wives w^ere like 

 maids to the first one." This did not mean, however, that the first 

 wife did not participate in household duties. 



Cooking was done by each wife in turn, if it was done for all fami- 

 lies together — "that is, if it was done in one kettle. One wife prepared 

 the forenoon meal and another the afternoon meal — we had only two 

 meals each day formerly." Sometimes wives took turns by days. In 

 some households each wife cooked for her own children — "it depended 

 on what the oldest wife ordered." In such cases the husband took 

 turns eating with his several wives and their children. 



Each wife tended to her own children. She and her children were at 

 home in the section of the ruka assigned to her. She kept this section 

 clean and had all her belongings there. She did not feel at home in 

 the sections occupied by the other wives, and would not take things 

 from there for her use without the permission of the woman to whom 

 they belonged. "If each wife feels at home only in her own section, 

 fewer unpleasant happenings occur." 



Polyandry, according to present informants, was never a part of 

 the Araucanian culture. No instance was reported by Cooper's sources 

 (1946, p. 721). Although Cooper's sources recorded it (1946, p. 

 722), my Araucanian informants emphatically denied that wife lend- 

 ing ever was practiced. The fact that the Araucanian language has 

 no word for wife lending leads me to believe my informants. Two 

 non-Araucanian women who know Araucanian family life intimately 

 did not believe that wife or daughter lending to guests was practiced. 

 "Hearing you say it is the first time I have heard it said about the 

 Mapuche," said one. "I do not believe either that girls have sexual 

 relationship with several men before they marry; an occasional one 

 does, yes." Again this is not in agreement with Cooper's sources 

 (1946, p. ^22). The other non-Araucanian continued: "I am certain 

 that these are not customs of the Mapuche. The marital life of mar- 

 ried couples is very fine. Exceptions such as Cooper's sources give 



