140 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. I33 



eluded from those with whom one might joke ; such persons were 

 those older than oneself, persons affected by in-law taboos (in 

 Coiiaripe area), and persons to whom one owed conventional courte- 

 sies. More specifically, a man may joke, but does not need to do so, 

 with the younger sisters of his wife ; with those older than his wife he 

 is to show reserve. A woman may joke with the younger brothers of 

 her husband, but need not do so ; she is to show reserve when speaking 

 to the older brothers of her husband. A man will not joke with his 

 brother's wife, even if she is younger than he. Children of the same 

 age who are cross-cousins may tease each other when they meet, but 

 never may a younger one do so to an older one. A woman may say 

 to a young girl relative whom she may meet, "Are you out looking 

 for a man?" But never may the girl say it to a woman. Neither 

 could a young man say it to a girl cousin, "for it would show very bad 

 rearing. It is really not allowed." 



RELIGION AND SUPERNATURAL POWERS 

 THE SUPREME BEING, HIS ABODE 



The Supreme Being was spoken of as both the creator of the world 

 (i]3nemapim) and the ruler of the world or lord of all creation 

 (qanechen). (Cooper's sources, 1946, pp. 742-743, and Felix Jose, 

 1916, vol. I, p. 58, are in agreement with this.) "They are identi- 

 cal," said the informant, "just two names for one person." Prayers 

 were addressed to the Supreme Being under both titles. In general, 

 however, prayers were directed to r)3nechen for matters pertaining 

 to the earth : "I say, 'You, qanechen, who are in the middle of heaven 

 and are mightiest, grant that what we have sowed will bring harvest ; 

 and that our animals will multiply. Send us rain and sunshine.' That 

 is how we pray when we pray directly to God." Nanemapun was 

 prayed to "when there was sickness in a family, and in general for 

 protection for a family in all things." Generally, today, God is spoken 

 of, and is addressed, as chau (father). 



According to Cooper's sources the Supreme Being did not concern 

 Himself with the moral order of things ; nor did the state of souls in 

 the future life depend on reward or punishment meted out by Him 

 (1946, p. 742). My informants were agreed that punishment was 

 meted out to individuals and/or all the people while they were on 

 earth. "Nanechen sends punishment by sending weather like we are 

 having this summer [drought]," said one; "He punishes us because 

 so many Mapuche do not like to pray, and are not praying." Another, 

 a 70-year-old man, said, "My grandfather was a real Mapuche ; he 



